volume #3 issue#40

October 12, 2006

Prairie Views: the newsletter of the Prairie Area Library

System News

Welcome!
We are very pleased to announce that on Monday, November 6, Brian Smith will be joining the PALS staff. Brian is currently the Adult Services Director at the Homer Township Public Library District. His background includes 4 years at the Homer Twp. PLD, 3 years at the Villa Park PL and the Waukegan PL, 7 years as the librarian at Jones, Day, Reavis, and Pogue law firm, and 2 years with Arthur Andersen, LLP. His education includes a BA from University of Illinois, Chicago, Masters in Public Administration from UIC, and an MA in Library and Information Studies from Northern Illinois University. Brian's primary responsibilities will be reference including virtual reference (AskAway through the Illinois State Library), overseeing the "Rooms" component of PALS Group, reference training, and working with special or academic libraries. Brian will be mostly working out of the PALS Shorewood office. Welcome, Brian!

Are You Ready to Join the 3rd University of Wisconsin/PALS Cohort of MLS Students?
Even though it's fall of 2006, we are looking forward to fall 2007 when we hope to begin the 3rd UW-Madison/PALS cohort of graduate students for the Master's Degree in Library and Information Studies program. If you think you might be interested in enrolling in the program, we encourage you to attend the Open House on Wednesday, November 15 at either of the three PALS Service Centers. Light refreshments will be served at 4:45 p.m. followed by an informational meeting hosted by the UW-Madison staff at 5:00. Since Wednesday is a regular class night, you are invited to attend the lecture from 5:30-7:30 to see how a videoconference class is conducted. There is NO commitment to register for the program at this time but if you are considering expanding your education we highly encourage you to come to the Open House to see if this might be for you.

The four core classes are held via videoconference at the 3 PALS Service Centers during the fall and spring. After those classes are completed (the first year), the remainder of the classes are online at your own pace. This is an ideal way to advance your education without a great deal of traveling. For the first two years, we've had a total of 42 students participate in the program and we'd like to see it continue as long as there is interest.

To attend the Open House on November 15, please contact Deb Shapiro at dsshapiro@wisc.edu (608-262-9195) or Jane Lenser at janel@palsnet.info (877-542-7257 x4461). For questions regarding the program, contact Deb, Jane, or Sandy Ringstrom at sandyr@palsnet.info (877-542-7257 x2710). You can also check out the UW-Madison website at www.slis.wisc.edu/academics/PALS.

Statistics
It is that time again when we ask our members to please do a statistical count on items being delivered via PALS delivery. The forms will be sent out later this month. The Delivery department and drivers would like to again thank you for doing this necessary project for us.

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, 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, 10 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

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

PALSGroup Training
Numerous PALSGroup training sessions have been scheduled for the coming months and are available for registration in CLeO. The first of these sessions are What's New - Circulation and What's New - Cataloging and Serials on Monday, October 16 at East Moline Public Library. More detailed information will be coming soon. In the meantime, please contact Rhonda Krahl at ext. 3151 or rhondak@palsnet.info if you have any questions.

24/7 Collection Management
The South Metropolitan Higher Education Consortium is planning a workshop called "24/7 Collection Management" on October 19, 2006 at Moraine Valley Community College. Librarians from all library types are welcome to attend. There will be presenters and/or responders from academic, public, and high school libraries. The consortium is now offering 4 CPDUs for the workshop. A flyer with more information is attached.

Crucial Conversations Award-Winning Workshop Now Available
Implement the principles and tools from the award-winning Crucial Conversations training for significant improvement in performance, team work, relationships, and meetings. This workshop will be offered on Monday, October 23, 2006 & Tuesday, October 24, 2006, 9:00 – 5:00 PM, North Suburban Library System – Auditorium. Click here for a flyer with more details and registration information.

Preview of OPAL Programs through November
Many interesting and informative OPAL online public programs are planned for October and November. For a complete, current list of programs, including links into the online rooms and background information, please visit: http://www.opal-online.org/progschrono.htm A streaming audio version of this preview of upcoming events is available at the following URL: http://www.opal-online.org/opalpromo200610.htm Many OPAL programs are recorded, archived, and podcast. The menu for the OPAL Archive can be found at the following URL: http://www.opal-online.org/archive.htm

Member News

Iowa City Doctor Presents Doyle and Holmes
Saturday, October 21, 9:30 a.m., in the Bettendorf Public Library’s Junior League Program Room--Retired dermatologist Richard Caplan has run the Iowa City Sherlockian Society for almost 20 years. The aspect of the Sherlock Holmes canon he is most familiar with deals with the life and times of Young Stamford, the physician who introduced Holmes and Watson to each other, and he has published a “biography” of Stamford. As he is also quite interested in the person and writings of the author Arthur Conan Doyle, his lively presentation will include both subjects.

Author John Green to Visit Libraries
Young adult author John Green will be speaking and signing books at the Scott County Library System and the Bettendorf Public Library during Teen Read Week. The program and book signing at the Eldridge branch (200 North Sixth Avenue) of the Scott County Library System will be held on Wednesday, October 18 at 7:00 p.m. The program and book siging at the Bettendorf Public Library (2950 Learning Campus Dr, Bettendorf) will be on Thursday, October 19, also at 7:00 p.m. John Green is the author of the Printz Award winning book, Looking for Alaska. The Michael L. Printz Award is given annually to a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. His new book is An Abundance of Katherines. The Friends of the Scott County Library System and the Friends of the Bettendorf Public Library are sponsoring the visits from John Green, which, in addition to the book signings at the public libraries, will include a number of high school visits.

Meet Author
James Swan, author of Fundraising for the Small Public Library, will be in East Dubuque on Friday, October 27th from 10:00AM until 2:00PM at Bittersweet on the Bluff. There is a $9.00 fee to cover breakfast and lunch. The East Dubuque District Library is offering this event thanks to an LSTA grant. Space is limited, reservations are required. A detailed brochure on the event is available. Please contact Michelle Wessels at 815-747-3052.

Peru Library Receives LSTA Grant
The Peru Public Library recently received a FY2007 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant from the Office of the Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White. The $2,000 grant entitled “Hey Teens! Discover Science at Your Library” will provide up-to-date science books and science DVDs geared toward this age group for science projects, research papers, and personal interests. These new resources will be available for check out and also featured in various displays at the library throughout the school year.

Books are Fun!
Bookfair featuring quality books and unique gifts at great savings. Saturday, October 28, 9:00 - 3:00.
Sterling Public Library Community Meeting Room.

Sunday Hours and Dewey's Copper Cafe
The Moline Public Library, 3210-41st Street, is open on Sundays through December 17, 2006 from Noon-4 p.m. For further information, please call 309-736-5737.

The Moline Public Library is pleased to welcome the addition of Dewey's Copper Cafe at our 3210-41st Street location. Dewey's Copper Cafe has tasty treats, a variety of tea and coffee drinks and soup and sandwiches. Hours are: M-Th 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Fri 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sat 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dewey's Copper Cafe can be reached by phone at 309-797-3730.

Reminder
Please call Jan Stilson at 815-732-7439 to schedule a program and or book signing regarding her newly published book, Art and Beauty in the Heartland at your library. This program is suitable for schools, public libraries or university libraries. She may also be reached at jstilson@insightbb.com.

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.

St. Ambrose University
The following items come up on our Manage Items In Transit (SAUG) and have either not come here for a hold, or made it back from other libraries. Could everyone please check their shelves for these items?
*303.34 Boy Resonant Leadership (30050054445001) Sent 1/26/2006 from DPLG for a hold
*B1297 .C29 1994 The Cambridge companion to Locke (30050026382852) Sent 5/16/2006 from BPLG for shelving
*PS3552.R685434 D3 2003 The DaVinci code (30050050795367) Sent 3/6/2006 from MPLG for shelving *PS3554.Y56 T3 2004 Tarantula / Bob Dylan (30050054678692) Sent 1/3/2006 EMPG for shelving

Mt. Morris Public Library
Missing The Clubfoot : the present and a view of the future /
George W. Simons, editor
call number 617.398 F915C
barcode 3 1911 00816 7687.
If you locate this book, please return it to MMLY, Mary Head, Mt. Morris Public Library

Reddick Library
Please check your shelves for the following Reddick items that are missing in-transit
1) Name all the animals by Allison Smith 155.937 SMI
2) Stiff by Mary Roach YA 611 ROA
3) On Hitlers mountain by Irmgard Hunt 943.086 HUN If found please sent to RLBB.

East Dubuque District Library
Returned a book by Edgar Cayce to Eldridge Scott County SELG on August 21, 2006. The book has not returned to Eldridge Library, as of October 4, 2006.
Description follows:
Author: Cayce, Edgar, 1877-1945
Call #: 133.8 CAY
Title: No soul left behind : the words and wisdom of Edgar Cayce
Bar Code 30050056593204
If you have the book, please return to SELG.

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@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.

Giveaway list from IVCC

James E. Barnes
Phone: 815 224-0204
E-mail: James_Barnes@ivcc.edu

Wall Hangings
The Rock Falls Public Library has 3 (new) wall hangings for sale $15 each. Can be seen in the Demco catalog. "Hug a Book" wall hanging
"Celebrate Books" wall hanging
"Celebrate Libraries" wall hanging
Call the library at (815) 626-3958 or email to rfdistrict@yahoo.com

John M. Lamb Collection
Last year Lewis University distributed several copies of the John M. Lamb Collection to member libraries along the Illinois and Michigan Canal in PALS. The collection consists of articles written by Professor Emeritus John M. Lamb, who is known for his expertise in history, especially history of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. The collection is titled, "The Collected Works of Historian John M. Lamb: The History of the Illinois and Michigan Canal and Related Subjects." It can also be seen on the Canal and Regional History Special Collection website at http://imcanal.lewisu.edu

Lewis University has 12 copies left which they would like to offer to libraries at no charge. If interested, email Mary Ann Atkins, Special Collections Librarian, at atkinsma@lewisu.edu

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.

Circulation Clerk
The Addison Public Library is looking for someone who is energetic, public service oriented and attentive to details to work at their busy Circulation Desk. Duties include check-in/out, patron registration, handling fines and other Circulation Desk operations. Flexibility, a sense of humor and excellent interpersonal skills are strongly preferred. Will train on automation system.
* Position is 17 hours per week including day, evening and some weekend hours.
* Starting salary is $10.01 per hour.
* Minimum requirements are bilingual Spanish/English with verbal and written proficiency in both languages, a high school diploma and one year work experience with the general public.

Applications available at Circulation Desk or send resume with three references and cover letter to:
Diane Klecka
Head of Circulation
Addison Public Library
Two Friendship Plaza
Addison, IL 60101
Phone: 630-458-3322, Fax: 630-543-3618, email: klecka@addison library.org.

Reference Services
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 in the Adult and Teen Services departments at our Bolingbrook and Romeoville libraries. Duties include helping patrons at the readers services and reference desks, interlibrary loan, assisting in the computer labs, and preparing materials for bibliographies and displays. These 24-hour per week, part-time positions include evening and weekend hours.
* LA/LTA certification, plus six months of related of experience required.
* Spanish language skills are a plus.
* Starting salary: $12.16 per hour
Closing date: November 1, or until position is filled.

Send cover letter, resume and three references, including contact information, to:
Helen Valantinas
Fountaindale Public Library District
300 W. Briarcliff Road
Bolingbrook, IL 60440
hvalantinas@fountaindale.lib.il.us
Equal Opportunity Employer

Reference and ILL News

Try-It! Illinois October 1-November 30
Log on to gain access to Try-It! Illinois 2006, the seventh annual statewide database trial, sponsored by Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White and the Illinois State Library. Try-It! Illinois offers the staffs and library users of the more than 4,000 ILLINET member libraries the opportunity to survey and evaluate a wide variety of electronic resources. Thanks to partnerships between the Illinois State Library and the participating electronic resource vendors, there is no charge for accessing these databases during Try-It! Illinois. (The Office of the Secretary of State/Illinois State Library makes no representations, guarantees, or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, currency or suitability of the Try-It! Illinois electronic resource offerings. The Office of the Secretary of State/Illinois State Library specifically disclaims any and all liability for any claims or damages that may result from use of electronic resources included in the Try-It! Illinois offering. The responsibility for content rests with the organizations that are providing the information. The inclusion of links from this site does not imply endorsement by the Office of the Secretary of State/Illinois State Library.)

Youth Services and School Library News
No Youth Services and School Library News this week.

Public Library News

September/October issue of Public Libraries
features negotiating with vendors, the Illinois State Library and a request for help in updatng the Planning for Results service responses. Not sure how to how to get the best deal from a vendor? Check out Kristine Kenney's article on page 11 of the current issue. She breaks the process down in steps and suggests a purchasing policy. She also gives tips on researching the company and talks about consortial purchases as those organized by the Illinois State Library. The State Library and all its activities are prominently featured in "State Libraries." If you want an overview of what our State Library does, this 2 page section might be a good thing to share with your staff or trustees. Many of PALS public library members used The New Planning for Results in developing their long range plans and a number of us learned directly from author Sandra Nelson in doing so. Sandra is now asking for input from public libraries as the Public Library Association looks at the service responses with an eye to updating them to fit current and future evolution of the way people use their public libraries.
Two studies are cited-- "The Perceptions of Libraries aind Information Resources (http://www.oclc.org/reports/2005perceptions.htm) and
"Long Overdue: A Fresh Looks at Public Attitudes About Libraries in the 21st Centruy (http://www.publicagenda.org/research/research_reports_details.cfm?list=99).
All public library staff members are encouraged to participate in this process which can be found at the PLA Results Web site (http://www.plaresults.org) and on the PLA Blog (http://plablog.org/plaserviceresponses).

Management Training for Public Librarians - Apply to the Certified Public Library Administrator Program
If you are a public librarian who is already a manager or who plans to become a manager, the Certified Public Library Administrator Program (CPLA) may help you reach your professional goals. CPLA is a post-MLS program for public librarians who want to know more about issues like budget and finance, personnel management, building maintenance, and technology management. Applicants should have an American Library Association accredited MLS and three or more years of supervisory experience. Applying for CPLA is a simple process of completing the application - http://www.ala-apa.org/certification/cplaapplication.html, sending your resume to the ALA-Allied Professional Association and submitting the application fee. The deadline for the Midwinter Review is January 5, 2007.

The courses are designed to offer practical learning and exercises to strengthen concepts that arise in running a public library. There are 18 courses, including several covering the electives of marketing, politics and networking, fundraising and grantwriting. Courses are offered by providers as diverse as Library Administration and Management Association, North Suburban Library System (IL), PALINET, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and University of North Texas and taught by respected and experienced faculty. Courses are online, face-to-face or a combination and all require completion of assignments and/or final projects. CPLA candidates have five years to complete courses in seven of the nine competencies. Librarians who are not quite ready to apply for CPLA may still enroll in courses - http://www.ala-apa.org/certification/cplacourses.html. They have up to 24 months after completing the course to apply to CPLA. CPLA reviews are conducted quarterly, at the ALA Midwinter Meeting, Annual Conference, in Spring and Fall.

Academic Library News

ACRL 2005 Academic Library Trends and Statistics Now Available
CHICAGO -The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) has published the 2005 Academic Library Trends and Statistics series, available both online and in print. This survey includes comprehensive data from 1,100 academic libraries in all Carnegie classifications. It covers collections, expenditures, electronic expenditures, personnel and public services (including Ph.D.s granted, number of faculty, undergraduate and graduate enrollment). The 2005 survey also measures the use of electronic resources by academic libraries. The data cover electronic journals, reference sources, books, networked resources and services, and digitization activities. "These data are especially useful for libraries seeking to benchmark their effectiveness in relation to their peer institutions as recommended in the ACRL Standards for Libraries in Higher Education," said Shawn P. Calhoun, chair of the ACRL Statistics Committee.

The three-volume survey is arranged by Carnegie classification including one volume with Associate of Arts degree-granting institutions, one with those in the combined Carnegie classifications of Master's Colleges and Universities, and Baccalaureate Colleges, and one with Research/Doctoral-granting institutions. The data also are available in an electronic version, with capabilities for searching and comparing select criteria. Ordering information for both versions can be found on the ACRL Web site, www.ala.org/acrl (Click on Publications/Academic Library Statistics). The volumes may be purchased individually or as a set. ACRL members receive a 10% discount on any purchase.

Special Library News
No Special Library News this week.

Support Staff News
No Support Staff News this week.

Technology Services News
No Technology Services News this week.

New Books at PALS

Library News Around the State & Nation

October is Diversity Awareness Month
Wednesday, October 18, 2006, 5:30 - 7:30, LGBT Illinois Authors Reception. Carlos T Mock M.D., will address this year's LGBT Authors Reception. Dr. Mock is the author of Borrowing Time: A Latino Sexual Odyssey. He is recognized for his fictional works dealing with Latino Cultural awareness, AIDS, and diversity.

Special exhibit October 16-November 3
2005 Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame, Family Portraits of LGBT by photographer Catherine Sikora and LGBT Authors of Illinois. The exhibit will feature 30 photographs of LGBT families, Hall of Fame inductees and works of fiction and nonfiction by early lesbian writers who were born in the Land of Lincoln or spend considerable amounts of time in the state. The books and exhibit will be displayed in the first floor Atrium and Illinois Authors Reading Room.

Illinois State Library
Diversity Program
Gwendolyn Brooks Building
300 S. Second Street
Springfield, IL 62701-1796
217-557-0136
The reception and exhibit is free and open to the public.

ALA Promotes Online Voter Registration
CHICAGO - In a joint effort to make registering to vote easier and more convenient for eligible Americans, the American Library Association (ALA) is participating in GoVote, a project of Working Assets and Mobile Voter. Throughout the 2006 national election season, ALA will host on its Web site a link to the GoVote.org initiative, where individuals can click to register to vote or update their voter registration information. Using the bilingual, nonpartisan site, people can register any time, from virtually anywhere-via conventional web browser, mobile phone browser and text messaging. People also can send email reminders to family and friends and sign up for information about volunteer opportunities in their local communities. Deadlines for voter registration vary by state, and a full list of registration deadlines can be found at: www.eac.gov/register_vote_deadlines.asp.

"Libraries are a vital part of the American democratic landscape," said ALA President Leslie Burger. "They serve the public by connecting citizens to valuable information regardless of economic status." Beyond providing library users with the resources they need to make smart and informed voting decision, ALA encourages its members to become registered voters and to promote the GoVote.org voter registration site in their local libraries.

Working Assets is a long distance, wireless, and credit card company. In 2003 and 2004, Working Assets launched and ran a campaign that registered over 1 million new voters. Founded in 2004, Mobile Voter is a non-profit, non-partisan organization seeking to facilitate the process of civic participation via mobile technology. For more information about ALA's participation in GoVote.org, please contact Joan Claffey at 1-800-545-2433, extension 3215. If you have technical questions about using the GoVote.org site, contact GoVote by email at govote@workingassets.com or by phone at 1-877-205-8683.

News from Vendors
No News from Vendors this week.

Legislative/Advocacy News
No Legislative/Advocacy News this week.

Just So You Know
No Just So You Know this week.

Grant News
No Grant News this week.

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 October 6, 2006

The Biology of B-Movie Monsters
The biggest challenge in science teaching is getting students interested in the first place, so the bad science, or the "huh? science" in popular culture is a wonderful teaching opportunity, which this professor takes full advantage of.
http://fathom.lib.uchicago.edu/2/21701757/

gotAPI.com Quick API Search
Bills itself as "the most comprehensive API [Application Programming Interface] collection on the web." As you know, I'm not really competent to evaluate tech stuff, but some who are have described it as "a handy API lookup service for a variety of languages, including PHP and MySQL, Java, HTML and CSS, etc." and "a nice AJAX search frontend for a number of sources of technical documentation."
http://www.gotapi.com/

HBCUMentor
"your online connection to America's Historically Black Colleges and Universities." Includes virtual campus tours and planning tools, including a financial aid calculator and a college entrance timeline, 8th- grade through 12th.
http://www.hbcumentor.org/

Library Use Value Calculator
The Maine State Library offers this handy tool which helps library patrons understand the monetary value of the library materials, programs, meeting rooms, computers, and reference services they use.
http://www.maine.gov/msl/services/calculator.htm

Master List of Library Journal's Movers and Shakers
2002-2006.
http://marylaine.com/movers.html
As you probably know, I'm the editor and primary writer for the Movers and Shakers issue, and we're hoping you'll use the online form to nominate someone for the March 15, 2007 edition. You can check this master list to see if the person you wish to nominate has been overlooked so far.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6358087.html

Map Quest
Wired
If you've ever wondered how the travel mapping web sites get the data to produce driving directions for you, or how they update the information, read this article. It's always useful to know HOW we know something is true.
http://wired.com/wired/archive/14.10/mapquest.html

Matchstick Marvels
Amazing art works and architectural models - Hogwarts, a stern-wheel riverboat, a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber the Block Island Lighthouse, and lots more - all built with thousands of matchsticks. If you want to see them in person, driving directions to the museum in Gladbrook, IA are included.
http://www.matchstickmarvels.com/models.html

oandp.com Resources
While oandp.com, "the Global Resource for Orthotics and Prosthetics,"
appears to be primarily directed at professionals, this resources section will be enormously valuable for amputees.
http://www.oandp.com/resources/

Politics and Tech Tools
Blogs, Aggregators and Tracking Tools
Librarian Laura Gordon-Murnane provides an excellent review, with links, of the top liberal and conservative blogs, candidate blogs, official party blogs, and local political blogs.
http://www.infotoday.com/searcher/oct06/Gordon-Murnane.shtml

The State of Working America
Using a variety of data on family incomes, taxes, wages, unemployment, wealth, and poverty, the Economic Policy Institute analyzes how the economy impacts standards of living for lower- and middle-income working Americans. Select chapters, tables, figures, and economic snapshots from the report are available here online.
http://www.stateofworkingamerica.org/

World Legal Information Institute
"675 databases from 86 countries including 21 international databases in collaboration with members of the Free Access to Law Movement." Databases include court decisions, case law, treaties, legislation, and more, from all over the world, searchable and browsable by country, region, religion, language, subject, and more. A translation function is built into the site.
http://www.worldlii.org/

Prairie Views will be published weekly on Thursdays on the PALS website. PALS member libraries are encouraged to send items for inclusion to prairieviews@palsnet.info by Tuesday of the week you would like your information to appear.

We will send an email reminder each week when the new issue is available on the PALS website. If you do not currently receive email reminders, please send a message to prairieviews@palsnet.info to have your email address added to the reminder mailing list or visit http://mailman.palsnet.info/mailman/listinfo to subscribe or unsubscribe yourself.