volume #4 issue#13

March 29, 2007

Prairie Views: the newsletter of the Prairie Area Library System

System News

Nominations Being Sought for FY2008 PALS Board of Directors
The PALS Board of Directors will have five vacant seats starting July 1, 2007. The vacancies needing to be filled are: 3 public library trustee seats, 1 special library seat and 1 academic library seat. All seats will serve three year terms except one public library trustee who will serve a two year term. If you would like to self-nominate or know anyone that is interested in applying for these vacancies, please go to the nomination form. Nominations will be accepted through April 18, 2007.

PALS Day 2007
PALS Day 2007 will be held on Friday, April 27, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Starved Rock Lodge in Utica, IL. Find more information on the PALS website or print off the attached brochure. Registration for PALS Day is limited to 225, and we have more than half that number registered already, so don't delay! Register for the event in CLeO. We have reserved blocks of hotel rooms at Starved Rock Lodge for both Thursday and Friday nights. If interested in staying, please call the hotel and tell them you would like one of the rooms in the PALS block. Rate is $70 single or $80 double occupancy, but deadline to get this rate through the PALS block is March 26. Please ask Judy Hutchinson (judyh@palsnet.info) or Nancy Smith (nancys@palsnet.info) if you have any questions about PALS Day.

An extra feature at this year's PALS Day is that Peggy Barber of Library Communications Strategies will be providing 15 minute one-on-one consultations with member libraries on their promotional materials or questions they have about marketing for their libraries. There are eight of these consultation timeslots, so if you are interested, sign up now! Contact Debbie Fowler (debbief@palsnet.info) to sign up for a consultation.

Register for Rides to PALS Day
PALS will be providing free bus transportation from each of the Service Center areas to Starved Rock Lodge for PALS Day on April 27th. For information and to register go to http://www.palsnet.info/events and find the bus serving the location from which you wish to travel. Please register as soon as you know your plans. Bus seats are limited.
Remember to register separately for the event itself!

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

Fall 2007 LTA Classes at Rockford and Coal Valley Service Centers
Attention library support staff! Are you looking for opportunities to learn more about the library world? Are you looking toward advancement in your current position or in your career? Then the LTA (Library Technical Assistant) Program may be for you. In past years, PALS has offered the LTA program from the College of DuPage via videoconference at both the Rockford and the Coal Valley Service Centers. We are considering offering this opportunity again in fall 2007.

If you are interested or for additional information, please contact Dawn DiVenti dawnd@palsnet.info
This is a great way to enter or re-enter the academic environment.
Check http://www.cod.edu/LTA for more information.

How Not to be the Library the Press Attacks
When you hear "I demand that you take that terrible book off the shelf!” do you run for cover, get angry, or give in? Are there alternatives? The Illinois Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Committee invites library staff and boards to a Defending Access Workshop coming soon to your library system. Defending Access with Confidence (by Catherine Lord) is a step-by-step program that takes participants through the history of intellectual freedom and the law, related policies, and approaches to challenges against intellectual freedom in the context of libraries. Utilizing this program, trainers will help participants understand their role in protecting the right to access in library settings and find alternative ways to satisfy patrons whenever possible.
April 12, 2007 Rolling Prairie Library System in Decatur
May 1, 2007 Prairie Area Library System at the Reddick Library in Ottawa
May 3, 2007 Alliance Library System in East Peoria
May 10, 2007 North Suburban Library System in Wheeling
May 17, 2007 Metropolitan Library System in Burr Ridge

To register for this program go to https://www.ila.org/events/reg_dawc.htm

Member News

Civil War Days @ Joliet Public Library
Library to Observe National Library Week with a “Step Back in Time” Using Living History Encampment/Music/Displays Yes, those actually are tents you’ll see if you drive past the Black Road Branch of Joliet Public Library between April 13 and 15. Yes, that noise that sounds like a cannon really is a cannon! Come together @ your library is this year’s slogan for National Library Week; Joliet Public Library will observe the event with a Civil War theme. Residents of Joliet "came together" during this time in our nation's history (1861-65). You’ll find displays of Civil War memorabilia at both library locations during April.

All events are free and open to the public. No reservations required for events but there is limited seating at the indoor programs. Both the Main Library at 150 N. Ottawa Street and the Black Road branch will have displays during the month of April with special programs and events April 13-15 and on April 21.

Call 815-740-2660,or go to the library website (http://www.joliet.lib.il.us), or stop at either library location for more information on the event.

Re-enactors from the 64th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company E (Yates Sharpshooters); 1st Mississippi Artillery; and the 26th Regiment North Carolina Troops will "set up" camp Friday evening, April 13, at the Black Road Branch, 3395 Black Road, and “break camp” Sunday, April 15. You’ll be able to hear and see the 1st Mississippi shoot their cannon and rocket-launcher April 14 at various times throughout the day. You can purchase your copy of the reprint of George Woodruff’s work, The Civil War Years in Will County, Illinois, from Joliet Area Historical Museum staff members on Saturday, April 14.

Bettendorf Public Library Spring Book Fair
Join the Friends of the Bettendorf Public Library at their Spring Book Fair March 30, 31, and April 1. The Fair is held on the second floor of the library. Thousands of good condition books will be for sale, as well as a variety of other formats including CDs, tapes, videos and puzzles. Most items are priced at 25c. A silent auction for book sets is also offered. The Members’ Preview Sale will be held from 5 – 7:30 P.M. on Friday, March 30. If not a current Friends Member, you may pay for membership at the door. General Sales will be held Saturday, March 31, from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. and Sunday, April 1 from Noon to 4 P.M.

Upcoming Bookfair
Scholastic Clearance Sale --- 50 % everything. Sale will be held at Harlem High School in the commons on Friday April 27 from 3 pm until 8 pm and Saturday April 28 from 9 am until 3 pm. Cash, check, credit cards, and purchase orders accepted. Questions contact Leah Krippner (815)654-4511 ext. 223.

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.

Title: Gone with the wind
Call No: DVD F GON
Barcode: 31521003441589
LovesPK Audiovisual
Due: 03-08-07 Item was sent from East Dubuque District Library 03-12-07

Title: Dog Whisperer with Ceasr Millan
Call No: DVD 636.7 DOG
Barcode: 31521003921093
Roscoe Non-Fiction
Due: 03-06-2007 Item was sent from East Dubuque District Library 03-07-2007

Title: Full metal jacket
Call no:VHS FUL
Barcode: 3757800436503
In-Transit 2-27
If found please send to RLBB.

Title: Hero on horseback by David Colins
Call no: J 973.346 COL
Barcode: 37578001186735
In-transit 3/7
If found please send to RLBB.

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 can email to Prairie Views, 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.

Davenport Public Library
has the following discarded book to give away:
2006 Official Museum Directory (2-vol set)

If interested, contact:
Brenda Ross
Phone : 563-328-6835
E-mail : bross@davenportlibrary.com

St. Ambrose University-O'Keefe Library
*Bound copies of the Catholic Messenger, Vol. 60 (1942) - Vol. 103 (1985)
*Speculum: A Journal of Medieval Studies (this is a quarterly publication) Jan. 1972 - Oct. 1999 Of the 27 years represented, we are only missing 7 volumes.

You will have to make arrangements to pick up, these cannot be sent through delivery.

If interested contact:
Heather Phillips
(563) 333-4214
or PhillipsHeatherL@sau.edu

Kishwaukee College Library
*Gale Directory of Publications and Broadcast Media (2004)
* National Geographic Index (1888-1946 and 1947-1969)
*Oxford English Dictionary, vol. XII and Supplement & Bibliography (1933; 1961 printing)
* Harlow G. Unger's Encyclopedia of American Education, 3 vols. (1996)
* Illinois Service Directory (2004)

If interested contact:
Tim Lockman
(815) 825-2086 ext. 566

Kaplan University
if offering the following videos free of charge.

If interested contact:
Jennifer Smith
jsmith@kucampus.edu

Moline Public Library
Genealogy books to give away.

If interested contact:
Lisa Powell Williams
Phone: 309-736-5748
lwilliams@molinelibrary.org

Reddick Library
has the following to giveaway:
1) Encyclopedia of Associations - 40th ed., 2003 - 4 vols.
2) Handybook for genealogists - 9th ed, 1999 - 1 vol.
Please email emchapman@reddicklibrary.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.

Senior Clerk
The Davenport Public Library has a part-time 20 hour per week Sr Clerk position available. This person will work at both the Main Library and Fairmount Branch. It includes days, nights, Saturdays & Sundays. $12.923/hour with sick/vacation/floating holiday accrual.
* Requires a high school diploma or its equivalent and six months experience in the performance of office clerical duties, or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Considerable knowledge and skills in standard office procedures and policies; telephone operation and etiquette; computers and computer applications; and quality customer service. Good knowledge of English grammar, spelling and basic arithmetic; oral and written communication skills; library practices and procedures and basic record keeping and bookkeeping principles. Checks materials in and out via the automated circulation system; assists patrons in library services, gives directional and location information, provides assistance in the operation of library equipment; registers borrowers and processes library cards; processes fines and handles money; answers telephones, takes messages and operates the switchboard; and other duties as assigned.

Send resume and cover letter to:
Sue Anderson,
HR Manager
321 Main St.
Davenport, IA 52801
or sanderson@davenportlibrary.com
Applications will be accepted 3/26/07-4/8/07

Want to be a part of opening a new high school?
Belvidere North High is opening in the fall of 2007. The media specialist will be working with Follett Book Company is designing an opening day collection as well as the reference department.

If interested contact:
Richard W. Kirchner
Principal Belvidere North High
815-547-6345 Ext. 1860

Library Media Specialist
School District U-46 is the second largest district in Illinois and is located 35 miles northwest of Chicago. We have an opening at Bartlett High School for a library media specialist with the opportunity to collaborate in the design of new information literacy modules. Appropriate State of Illinois certification required.

For more details, please call:
Tiffiny Bolden at (847) 888-5000, ext. 7174.
On-line applications: http://www.teachinkane.org

Library Director
Elizabeth Public Library is looking for an individual to perform the duties of Library Director. Position is part time and hours may vary from 15-26 per week.
* Duties include staff supervision, scheduling, collection development, programming, and daily administrative duties. Computer skills and willingness to perform grant writing is necessary. Willingness to attain further PALS training and minimum educational membership requirements is necessary.
* Familiarity with Follett Automation System is a plus.
* Library Science background preferred.

Cover letter and resume accepted until April 5, 2007 and should be addressed to:
Elizabeth Library Board President
Scott Toot
P.O. 243
Elizabeth, IL 61028

Assistant Director
Full-time Professional - Technical Sauk Valley Community College, a comprehensive community college located in a picturesque rural setting in northwestern Illinois, invites applications from innovative individuals for an Assistant Director of the Learning Resource Center. Located in rural northwestern Illinois, along the scenic Rock River, between the cities of Dixon and Sterling; the College is one hour from Rockford and the Quad Cities and two hours west of Chicago.
* Responsibilities: The Assistant Director will assist in the overseeing of the daily operations of the Learning Resource Center. In addition, the Assistant Director will function as the system administrator for an I-Share Endeavor Voyager OPAC, teach information literacy classes, create library on-line instructional resources, conduct library tours, manage all technical services activities (including doing original cataloging) , and answer reference questions.
* Qualifications: ALA accredited Master’s degree in Library Science or Library and Information Science preferred. Individual with LTA, BA or Masters in related subject field or computer science with at least one year of broadly responsible Library experience will be considered. Cataloging/technical service combined with a computer application and database/library system administration background and experience at an I-Share institution are desirable. Strong customer relations skills are required.

The College offers a liberal fringe benefits package and does not deduct FICA from paychecks.

Review of applications will begin immediately; position will remain open until filled. Interested individuals should send a cover letter, resume, unofficial transcripts, and contact information for at least four (4) professional references to:
Ms. Kathryn Snow
Director of Human Resources
Sauk Valley Community College
173 Illinois Route 2
Dixon, Illinois 61021
Phone: (815)288-5511 ext. 291
EMail: employment@svcc.edu

Technology/Reference Assistant
(Adult Services), Part Time Batavia Public Library District, located in the beautiful Fox River valley west of Chicago, seeks an energetic, public service-oriented technology/reference assistant for its Adult Services department. Batavia serves a district population of 25,723 from a large (54,000 square feet) facility that opened in 2002. Visit us at http://www.BataviaPublicLibrary.org
* Responsibilities: This 15-hour/week position signs in patrons for use of the Computer Lab; assists patrons with use of the Internet, Microsoft Office applications, and printers; monitors use of the Computer Lab; teaches computer classes; and provides assistance with computer and copier equipment. Hours include weekday afternoon and evening hours and 2 Sundays per month.
* Qualifications: Required: The successful candidate will have a high school degree and work experience in a public service environment; and will be a team player who works well with others; and who is endowed with excellent communications skills; and will be familiar with Windows, Microsoft Office applications, and the Internet.
* Preferred: Coursework in a relevant field is desirable. Desired: It would be great if you were fun-loving, tactful, resourceful, and good-humored.
* Compensation: Hourly salary from $10.50, depending upon qualifications.

If you would like to join our team, please send a letter of interest describing your skills and experience, a detailed résumé, and contact information for at least three professional references to:
Stacey Cisneros
Head of Adult Services
Batavia Public Library
10 S. Batavia Ave.
Batavia, IL 60510-2793.
Electronic submissions (using Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF) to scisneros@linc.lib.il.us are encouraged. Batavia Public Library District is an equal-opportunity employer. Inquiries are encouraged from candidates who will enrich and contribute to the cultural and ethnic diversity of the Library.

Reference and ILL News
No Reference and ILL News this week.

Youth Services and School Library News

Ideas for using Uglies
Robin Willard from the Chicago Public Library is sharing a book discussion kit for the new Abe Award winner, Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. The project was spearheaded by the Chicago Public Library Teen Volume and was funded by the McCormick Tribune Foundation through the CPL Foundation. Librarians and teens worked together to put the kit together. Click here to download the kit.

Talk, Listen, Connect: Helping Families During Military Deployment
Sesame Workshop and Wal-Mart stores have partnered to create free bilingual kits geared toward children ages 3-5 who are adjusting to a parents' deployment. The kits, called "Talk, Listen, Connect: Helping Families During Military Deployment", contain a Sesame Street DVD, parent/caregiver magazine, and children's activity poster. Kits can be ordered online at http://www.sesameworkshop.org/tlc.

Free materials for El día de los niños/El día de los libros
The Association of Library Services for Children (ALSC), through the support of Target, is now offering free materials in support of El día de los niños/El día de los libros, Children’s Day/Book Day (Día). This annual celebration, held April 30, spreads “book joy” by linking children of all languages and cultures with books. Libraries may receive up to 200 complimentary bilingual brochures and bookmarks upon submitting information to ALSC about their Día celebrations.

An online submission form is available via the Día Web site at http://www.ala.org/dia. Those who register their Día event information by April 13 will receive free brochures and bookmarks while supplies last.
For questions, please contact ALSC at dia@ala.org.

Public Library News

Construction Grant Workshops
The State Library will present four workshops this spring on the FY2008 Live & Learn Construction Grant Program for libraries interested in the program or considering applying for a grant this coming fall. ISL Staff will review the specifics of the program and discuss the application process. Registration is required and can be made through the State Library's CLeO website. The locations, dates and times are:
Tuesday, April 24 1-3 PM Metropolitan Library System, Burr Ridge
Thursday, April 26 10-Noon Alliance Library System, East Peoria
Tuesday, May 1 1-3 PM Illinois State Library, Room 403
Thursday, May 3 1-3 PM Benton Public Library, Benton

Essential Public Library Service Available at 50-95% Discount
If your library was in need of a new HVAC system, and could purchase at a 50-95% discount, wouldn’t you jump at the opportunity? Another essential component of the library “infrastructure,” online databases, are now available to all Illinois public libraries at this exceptional discount.

More and more, library users want their library resources on their terms: at home, at work, 24/7, with added bells and whistles. The Gale Virtual Reference Library (GVRL) contains 330 reference titles, all searchable at one time, with translation into seven languages, the ability to generate citations, and much more. Why have so many libraries already purchased GVRL through the Illinois Library Systems? Because it’s a price that can’t be beat. The purchase price of this top flight resource varies by library size, and for example, a small library was able to purchase this resource valued at $113,000 for a mere $300. Another benefit: your library will own these titles. A soon to be launched Illinois GVRL Web site will add to the ease of access for your library patrons. For more information on this discount, visit www.lptrust.org, or contact Dale Lawrence (dlawrence@nsls.info)

Academic Library News
No Academic Library News this week.

Special Library News
No Special Library News this week.

Support Staff News

What is COLT?
The Council on Library/Media Technicians (COLT) is an international organization that has as its goal, the recognition and acceptance of library support staff as full members of the Library Team. We are affiliated with: ALA-American Library Association, OALT/ABO - Ontario Association of Library Technicians ALIA - Australia National Library Technician Group. Membership is as easy as contacting the COLT website at http://colt.ucr.edu/ or myself cljeans@lemontlibrary.org.

Our 40th Annual Conference entitled "Support Staff: An Essential Piece of the Library Landscape" will be held in Washington, D.C. June 20-22, 2007 at the Wyndham Hotel. The Conference begins with Keynote Speaker, John Berry III, Editor-at-large, of Library Journal and continues with great sessions which includes an afternoon guided tour of the Supreme Court. For more details on sessions and registration check the COLT website.

From: Cheryl Jeans, Central Regional Director of COLT, Lemont Public Library

Technology Services News

Barcode Certification Failure
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.

PALS has developed the following course of action should a staff member of a PrairieCat Library fail the Barcode Certification Test 3 times. The supervisor will be notified when a staff member has failed the test for the 2nd time. Staff will still have their cataloging privileges in PrairieCat while in the Barcode School program to do their job, provided they follow the course of action outlined below. Upon notification of the 3rd failure, the staff person will have 3 months to attend Barcode School and retake the test. Barcode School is a half day training session that will cover matching and use of the Sirsi cataloging module. The staff member will be required to attend this training at the appropriate Service Center. After they have attended Barcode School, they will have one final opportunity to take the Barcode Certification Test. If they fail the test at this time, they will lose their cataloging authorization and access to PrairieCat. If you have questions please contact Merideth Willett, meridethw@palsnet.info or ext. 3257 or John Slanicky johns@palsnet.info or ext. 2716.

Extended Deadline
In order to allow ample time for member staff to prepare and/or receive training before they take the Barcode Certification test, PALS has extended the deadline for Barcode certification. Those libraries that have been using Sirsi - HAL and QL libraries - now need to be certified by December 31, 2007. Those libraries that are new to Sirsi will now need to be certified by June 30, 2008.
If you have questions, please contact Merideth Willett ext. 3257, meridethw@palsnet.info or John Slanicky ext. 2716, johns@palsnet.info

New Books at PALS
No News Books at PALS this week.

Library News Around the State & Nation

ALA Honor Roll Website
ALA is recognizing libraries that are champions of staff development and support their employees attending work-related activieis. We know that a number of PALS libraries fit that description. You can nominate your library by going to http://www.mjfreedman.org/honorrollsite/index.html. If you need additional information about PALS sponsored events your staff has been attending, contact one of the PALS Library Services Coordinators for an updated report on your staff's activities.

OCLC Record #100,000,000 Added
Record # 100000000 was recently contributed to OCLC by Library Connection, Inc.
Title: It’s a horse’s life advice and observations for the humans who choose to share it, by Joanne M. Friedman, published in 2003 by iUniverse.

Small Businesses Start @ Your Library
Visit the Campaign for America's Library site by May 10th to promote the latest Woman's Day initiative. Click on the Small Businesses Start @your library button to download publicity materials. Every year, more than 500,000 entrepreneurs start new businesses in the United States. But how and where to they get the resources and support it takes to succeed? The answer is @ your library. From now until May 10, Woman’s Day magazine is collecting stories on how its readers have used the library to start their small businesses. The American Library Association in conjunction with Woman’s Day is looking for women aged 18 and over to submit their stories in 700 words or less. Stories can be sent to womansday@ala.org. Four of the submissions will be featured the March 2008 issue of Woman’s Day.

Megan McFarlane, Coordinator @ your library, The Campaign for America's Libraries
50 East Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 280-2148
mmfarlane@ala.org

Hire Smarter with ALA JobLIST!
One ad. One website. Far-reaching results.
Visit JobLIST.ala.org to see how this one-stop job placement site from ALA makes recruiting easier. On JobLIST you can

Read posted resumes
Connect with candidates
Attain the diverse reach you need to meet EEOC and other guidelines

Find out for yourself why more libraries and companies will use JobLIST to find the right people.

News from Vendors

New PBS Program: American Barn Stories and Other Tales from the Heartlands
Following the 2006 success of my first PBS barn documentary, "Wisconsin Barns---Touchstones to the Past", I am very pleased to announce the release of the second PBS program, "American Barn Stories and Other Tales From the Heartlands", which again looks at the subject of our old barns. This new show is also 30-minutes and looks at barn stories from around Wisconsin as well as a barn from Lake County, Illinois where a couple saved an old barn to use it to raise Alpacas. Otherwise, the program again reinforces the history and heritage we all share in the grand old structures and also provides rehab, preservation and adaptive re-use information. The program also takes us out into the countryside to look at some of the things that go on inside a traditional, old, wooden barn.

The total price for the new show, including shipping, is $29.95. You can order via email, snail mail with a Purchase Order or call at the number listed below. Also, a number of libraries have inquired as to whether or not I offer a personal presentation on the barn subject and the answer is yes, I do---it looks at both the subject of the barns as well as producing a TV show about them. If you would like information about this please feel free to contact me via the contact information below. The presentation is available throughout the Midwest.

Tom Laughlin/Producer
Kovia Productions
N2856 Walden Lane
Lake Geneva WI 53147
kovia@genevaonline.com
www.koviaonline.com
1-800-914-7913

Legislative/Advocacy News

HB 1727 at Second Reading Stage
The Illinois House was scheduled for the second reading of HB 1727, mandatory filter bill, just as they broke for the two week Easter break. We now have the break to plead our case. http://www.capwiz.com/ila/callalert/index.tt?alertid=9508996 District office visits might make for a more convincing explanation of how this is harmful. If schedules permit, Inara McGroarty welcomes going along with any of you to visit your representative. Just call (ext 4452) or email Inara. All bills work through a process that involves being heard on the floor for three readings prior to a final vote.

Illinois Library Day Countdown
Illinois Library Day is fast approaching. Have you registered yet on the ILA web site? Even if you're driving yourself and have no need of transportation or a lunch, please make sure to register so we know how many attendees to expect this year. The interactive registration form and the PDF version of the registration form for Illinois Library Day April 19th are both now available for your convenience.

Transportation
If you need transportation from any of our service centers, or transportation from Mendota at the conclusion of the delegates meeting, please be sure to register on CLEO so we save a spot for you. PALS is making it possible to meet your needs whether this is for a one day round trip on Thursday, April 19th, or for participation in Wednesday's dinner with Kip Kolkmeier, ILA's lobbyist and the breakfast with our legislators in the atrium of the state library. The second choice requires that you make reservations for the dinner and/or breakfast as well as making your own reservations for lodging. Any questions? Either e-mail Inara at inaram@palsnet.info or call ext 4452.

Library Umbrellas
April showers might bring May flowers, but rain doesn't restrict itself to April only. An umbrellas is just a good thing to have handy. If you didn't order a library umbrella last year and would like one for the march to the capitol at this year's ILD (Illinois Library Day), or, as a new option this year, umbrellas may be ordered even if you're unable to participate in ILD. These umbrellas will get to you through PALS but must be ordered and paid for by you. The blue/white stripe umbrellas, identical to last year's, may be ordered online at https://www.ila.org/events/reg_ild.htm for $10 each. Last year, the umbrellas sold out before ILD. Place your order as quickly as you can in order to be assured that your order can be filled. They make for a good item to present to your trustees or staff.

Just So You Know

The University of Wisconsin/Madison has announced some summer course offerings for 2007.
Please contact the university directly for follow-up and information. Here is your chance to spend a week in Madison this summer! UW-Madison SLIS's summer continuing education courses are listed below. Please see http://www.slis.wisc.edu/continueed for course descriptions and registration information.
Courses in Madison
*Grant Writing Dates: June 4-7, 2007 Instructor: Jane Pearlmutter
*Summer Camp by the Lake: Public Library Administration Dates: June 25-29, 2007 Instructor: Kelly Krieg-Sigman
*Travel Opportunity-Librarians’ Tour to Scotland Dates: July 14-25, 2007 Tour Director: Jane Pearlmutter
*Summer Camp by the Lake: Cataloging Dates: August 13-17, 2007 Instructor: Debra Shapiro
*Puppets in the Library Dates: August 20-24, 2007 Instructor: Susan Santner
*Summer Online Offerings Graduate Credit Courses Dates: June 18 – August 12, 2007
* Cataloging and Classification Collection Management Digital Libraries Online Skills Courses In cooperation with a national network of educational institutions, we offer online courses on a variety of technical topics and a few non-technical topics. While the courses do not have a library focus, they may be useful to anyone who needs to develop these skills.
Please see http://www.slis.wisc.edu/continueed for more information.
Questions? Contact Anna Palmer, ahpalmer@wisc.edu or 608-263-4452.

Grant News

Save Our History
The History Channel is providing 25 $10,000 grants for partnerships involving opportunities for students to experience the history of their community through hands-on preservation based projects. Libraries are definitely eligible particpants so for more details and an application, please go to http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Generic&content_type_id=52925&display_order=3&sub_display_order=6&mini_id=51103.

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 March 30, 2007

America's Favorite Architecture
"the result of an AIA and Harris Interactive poll of 1,800 Americans naming their 150 favorite structures across the nation." The site, which also includes structures like monuments and bridges, offers brief descriptions and historical info on each, along with the opportunity to add your own comments.
http://www.aia150.org/aia150_afa_default

Clusty Cloud Creator
The clustering search engine Clusty offers this tool which enables webmasters or bloggers to generate visual links to the information structure of a given topic, based on Clusty's search results on that topic.
http://cloud.clusty.com/

CostHelper.com
Browse through product and service categories, or type in the name of the product/service to "Find out what price other people are paying." In addition to price info, you'll learn what SHOULD be included, what additional costs you may encounter, info on discounts, and tips on shopping for the product.
http://www.costhelper.com/

Directions Magazine:
the Worldwide Source for Geospatial Technology
Anyone interested in geographic information systems will probably be interested in the articles, product announcements, job openings, and blog offered here. Free newsletters are also available.
http://www.directionsmag.com/

Directories of Podcasts
Your guide to a variety of indexes that keep track of specialized podcasts for specific countries, languages, and topics (e.g., gospel, drama, music, outdoor sports, business, etc.).
http://www.podcast411.com/page2.html

FirstPerson
[MSNBC] - Share Your Stories
Or at least your photos and videos, on announced topics like March Madness, stories from the front line, wild weather, gender and politics in the workplace, etc. Submitted stories and photos may be featured on NBC and MSNBC programs.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16712587/

How To Deal with Abusive Customers
Both the initial article and the comments provide valuable ideas and perspective.
http://microisvjournal.wordpress.com/2007/02/16/how-to-deal-with-abusive-customers/

IRE Awards, 2006
Investigative Reporters & Editors provides links to outstanding reporting (both winners and runners-up) on the Sago Mine disaster, police use of tasers, counterfeit prescription drugs, "Citizenship for Sale," "Mental Anguish and the Military," the inadequacies of a tornado warning system, and much more.
http://www.ire.org/contest/06winners.html

National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers
Care Management Resources
A useful set of annotated links for those needing help caring for elderly relatives.
http://caremanager.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=45

Shorpy:
the 100 Year Old Photo Blog
This photo blog about what life was like a hundred years ago is based on photos "taken in the early 1900s by Lewis Wickes Hine as part of a decade-long field survey for the National Child Labor Committee."
http://www.shorpy.com/

Who Owns the U.S. National Debt:
Pie Chart
It's reassuring to know it's not, as has been rumored, mostly owed to China. Not so reassuring: it adds up to $8708 Billion.
http://www.optimist123.com/optimist/2007/03/updated_pie_cha.html

World Lecture Hall
This oldie but goodie is still one of the best places to discover online course material - syllabi, course notes, audio, or video -- on virtually every topic, from around the world. Equally useful for for students, independent learners, and faculty seeking models for new courses they've been assigned to teach.
http://web.austin.utexas.edu/wlh/index.cfm

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