volume #4 issue#36

September 6, 2007

Prairie Views: the newsletter of the Prairie Area Library System

System News

PALS Librarian's Advisory Committee (LAC) Meeting
The first meeting for FY2008 of the PALS Librarian's Advisory Committee will be held on Friday, September 7, 2007 at the LaSalle Public Library from 10am-3pm. To view the agenda or see who the LAC representatives are for your neighborhood, visit the LAC page on the PALS website.

Freeport Neighborhood Meeting
Please mark your calendar for Tuesday, October 2, 2007 for the Freeport Neighborhood Meeting at Forreston Public Library. We will meet from 9:30-11:30 a.m. This will be an opportunity to meet the PALS liaison to the Freeport Neighborhood, to network with colleagues and to discuss what is happening in the neighborhood and at PALS. Please register in CLeO if you plan to attend.
For additional information, please contact http://dawnd@palsnet.info Dawn DiVenti.

Save the Date!
PALS will host an "All PALS" meeting on Tuesday, November 6, 2007, available by videoconference at all eight neighborhood locations. This meeting will be an update on various topics/projects by PALS staff and an opportunity for neighborhood networking. Watch for more details in a few weeks.

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

PALS to Offer Two CPLA Courses
In partnership with the Public Library Association, PALS has been selected to offer two Certified Public Library Administration courses. For information about the Certified Public Library Adminstrator program: http://www.pla.org/ala/pla/plaevents/cplacourses/CPLAcourses.cfm

*On October 24-25, 2007, PALS will host "Serving Diverse Populations."
The event will be held at the Rockford Public Library Main Auditorium at 215 N. Wyman St, Rockford IL 61104.

*On April 1-2, 2008, PALS will host "Current Trends."
The event will be held at the Moline Public Library at 3210 41st St, Moline IL 61265.

For more information about these events, please contact Dawn DiVenti, Library Services Coordinator, Continuous Learning,
dawnd@palsnet.info

Member News

Congratulations
to Brenda Ross, Technical Services Supervisor, Davenport Public Library, and her husband Jason, on the birth of their first child Sam Joseph Ross on August 29. He weighed 8lbs. 1oz.

Homer Library's 2nd Annual Author Fair
The Homer Library's Second Annual Author Fair is on Tuesday, September 18 from 6:00-8:45. Listen to authors speak about their experiences, writings, and more. Also, stop by an author's table for individual discussion and book signings. For more information, contact Heather Colby at (708) 301-7908 or visit http://homerlibrary.org/authorfair.asp.

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 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.

Free to a Good Home!
Franklin Grove Public Library would like to offer the remaining contents of their old library to libraries interested FREE of charge. Items remaining include steel shelving units, display rack, plastic children’s table and chairs, desks and office chairs. If you are interested in more information, photographs, or taking a look at the contents please contact Library Director Carol Schrey at director@franklingrovelibrary.org or 815-456-2823. Those accepting the freebies must be able to remove and transport the items by September 21.

The Rock Falls Public Library has an atlas stand to give away. Is app. 48" high x 30" wide x 28" deep. Also has 6 pull out drawers. Light oak colored. Has some scratches. Must arrange for pick up. Call (815)626-3958 or email the library if interested.

Needing a New Home
23 volumes
Holy Bible in braille, in excellent condition-Published by the Bible Foundation, Oakland Park FL. Also included is a cookbook, catechism book, lessons in truth and a songbook.
Please contact:
Jennifer Slaney Director
Sterling Public Library
102 W. 3rd St. Sterling, IL 61081-3505
815-625-1370
815-625-7037 (fax)
librybear@aol.com

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.

Media/Library Science School Librarian
Earlville Community Unit School District #9
* Application Deadline: Open Until Filled
* Start Date: as soon as possible
* Salary/Benefits: $33,352.00 for FT. Half-time equivalent = $$16,676.00 + 9% TRS benefit
* Type of Employment: Part-time permanent
* Duties: All aspects of the pre/K-12 school library.
* Qualifications: Applicant must have a master's degree in library science, be certified as a school librarian or be otherwise qualified to hold the position of school librarian. Additional Notes: This position is half-time. Hours and days will be determined by both parties upon hiring. Call 815-246-8361 x12 for additional information.

Send letter of interest and resume to:
Patricia E. Hahto
Ed. D., Superintendent
Earlville CUSD 9
415 W. Union
Box 539
Earlville, IL 60518

Youth Services Assistant
Bettendorf Public Library
Seeking creative, enthusiastic individual to work in our Youth Services Department. Must like to work with children and adults in a busy library setting.

Responsibilities include: children’s programming, readers’ assistance, selection of audio materials and other duties related to the daily operation of the department. Requires a level of knowledge normally acquired through completion of a high school diploma program. Three to six months of library related work experience. Working knowledge og Microsoft Office products. Training in Early Childhood Development desired.
Work hours: Mondays and Wednesdays, 12:30-9 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; alternate Fridays and Saturdays, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., some Sundays, 12:45-4 p.m. (Non-negotiable)
Starting Salary: $16.2279
Applications are available at all City buildings or on the web site www.bettendorf.org. Applicants must turn in letter of interest, resume and City application by Friday, September 21st, 2007 at 5:00 p.m. to Human Resources, City Hall, 1609 State Street, Bettendorf, Iowa. The City of Bettendorf is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer. The City of Bettendorf complies with Americans with Disabilities Act.

Home Delivery Library 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 home delivery library 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 www.BataviaPublicLibrary.org

Responsibilities: This 15-hour/week position provides library service to patrons for whom library services are inaccessible for mobility or vision reasons. The home delivery library assistant delivers materials to senior living facilities and to individuals, places requests for home delivery patrons, and monitors incoming and outgoing materials for home delivery patrons. Hours include weekday hours.

Qualifications: Required: The successful candidate will have a high school degree; will have work experience in a public service environment, particularly experience working with seniors and people with special needs; will have a familiarity with popular fiction and nonfiction; will possess a valid Illinois driver’s license; and will be able to lift and transport book bags of materials weighing 25 pounds or more. Preferred: Library work experience and a college degree are desirable. Desired: Enjoys working with seniors. It would be great if you were compassionate, tactful, resourceful, and good-humored.

Compensation: Hourly salary from $10.90, 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@bataviapubliclibrary.org 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

Drexel University Looks to Make Internet Public Library a Virtual Learning Lab
August 30, 2007 (Computerworld) -- Drexel University is working with the University of Michigan and Florida State University to transform the Internet Public Library (IPL) into a virtual teaching and learning laboratory for digital reference. The project will help librarians as well as students in library and information science programs keep up with the new technological developments in digital reference services, according to a statement from the university. Users want to access information around the clock via handhelds, cell phone text messaging and online virtual environments, the university said. Drexel said it received more than $600,000 in grants from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services' Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program, which will run through June 2010. Launched in 1995, the IPL hosts an e-mail question-and-answer service and provides access to collections, including exhibits and resources on a variety of subjects with Web links. "The grant will be used to develop and disseminate digital reference curricula, establish an online learning community to support the IPL, and design and determine the feasibility of a technological training center for digital librarianship," according to the statement.

Youth Services and School Library News

PALS Workshop: Making the Match for School and Youth Services Librarians
"Making the Match: The Right Book for the Right Reader at the Right Time: Grades 4-12." This program will focus on books, old and new, and how to connect them to kids in the most effective way. Knowing the kids, knowing the books, and knowing the strategies for bringing the two together can help motivate ALL kids to want to read. The program will be held on Friday, Oct. 5th from 9:00-2:30 at the Mendota Civic Center. The cost is $30 which includes lunch. Please register in CLeO if you plan to attend. If you have questions, please contact Jane Lenser, x4461, janel@palsnet.info or Norma Applegate, x2705 normaa@palsnet.info.

National Storytelling Festival Trip
Greetings Librarians & Storytellers - Just an FYI that if you were thinking about joining us on a future trip to the National Storytelling Festival - your last opportunity to join us would be this year. McHenry County Storytelling Guild announces the 2007 trip as the FINAL trip. There are openings and you can make your reservations right now. Details on the attachment.

Public Library News

PLA 2008 Conference Registration to Open September 5
March 25-29, 2008, Minneapolis, MN
Registration for PLA 2008, the 12th National Conference of the Public Library Association (PLA), opened on September 5, 2007. The PLA Housing Bureau also began accepting hotel reservations on September 5, 2007. To register and request housing online for PLA 2008, or to download registration and housing forms, visit www.placonference.org.

PALS is planning to offer rides to PLA because of the "driveable" location. If you're interesting in hearing more details about rides to PLA, please contact Nancy Smith at ext. 4466 or at nancys@palsnet.info.

Academic Library News
No Academic Library News this week.

Special Library News

Aspirations, Realities and Opportunities: an Interactive Conversation
Sponsored by: DuPage Library System, Metropolitan Library System, North Suburban Library System, SLA Illinois

Explore the changing role of the special librarian today, and how library professionals can navigate the chutes and ladders of their careers now and in the future. Hear from your colleagues, explore Illinois resources, and hear Janice LaChance, Chief Executive Officer of SLA. Get in the conversation!

When: November 2, 2007 Time: 8:30 A.M. - 3:30 P.M.
Where: North Suburban Library System, Wheeling IL
Cost: $85 (includes continental breakfast and lunch)
Register at: http://www.dupagels.lib.il.us/calendar/

Sessions Include:
• Library as Individual: Professionals Without Places.
• Managing Change: How to make the most of the opportunities of our changing workplaces in challenging times.
• Information Professional as Technology Broker.

Illinois Resources Expo - Discover the wealth of resources available from around the state. Learn about technology tools, group purchases, information resources, and more! Interactive Conversation - Discuss issues, concerns and ideas with colleagues, and apply knowledge gained at individual sessions to elevate your role in your workplace.

Questions? Contact the Metropolitan Library System at consultants@mls.lib.il.us or (630) 734-5130

Support Staff News

Reaching Forward South 2007 Conference
This is a reminder that the Reaching Forward South 2007 conference is right around the corner. For information about the conference and registration click here. If you have further questions, please contact Dawn DiVenti, Library Services Coordinator.

Technology Services News
No Technology Services News this week.

E-Rate Corner

I hope all of you are busy collecting your money for Year 9 (Yellow). October 28, 2007 is the general deadline for submitting year 2006 E-Rate reimbursement requests. Funding year 2006 runs from 07/01/2006 to 06/30/2007, however, if you received a Form 486 Notification Letter from USAC dated on or after July 1, 2007, the deadline is 120 days after the letter date. If AT&T if one of your providers, their website is: www.att.com/erate to complete their ARF process or by using the 472 BEAR Form. This form is available for download on the SLC website at: www.sl.universalservice.org under the required forms section on the left of the page. This form can be filed on paper or online. If you complete a BEAR Form for AT&T you need to include your account number for each FRN that has been approved. AT&T BEAR Forms can be faxed to: 908-532-1395 The contact for AT&T is: Margie Bauer, AT&T E-Rate Coordinator, 877-272-2544.

And for help with any E-Rate question, contact Marilyn at PALS Rockford at 815-229-4470 or email: marilynj@palsnet.info

Library News Around the State & Nation

Advance Registration for 2007 ILA Annual Conference
Monday, 10 September is the deadline date for advance registration for the 2007 Illinois Library Association Annual Conference. Save money. Get your registration today.

Exhibits at the 2007 ILA Annual Conference: Free exhibit passes will be available on-site at the Prairie Capital Convention Center. Join our exhibitors on Wednesday, 10 October, for an opening luncheon reception from 12:30 to 2:00 P.M. and a cookie break from 3:00 to 3:30 P.M. On Thursday, 11 October, visit the exhibits for complimentary coffee from 10:30 to 11:30 A.M. and a closing lunch reception from 12:30 to 2:00 P.M. Exhibit hours: Wednesday, 10 October, from 12:30 to 5:00 P.M. and Thursday, 11 October, from 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Please note that exhibits will not be open on Friday, 12 October.

Rides to ILA Exhibits
PALS is once again proposing to offer rides from each of the Service Centers to ILA Exhibits at the 2007 Conference in Springfield. Because of a change in the ILA Exhibits schedule, the ride is being offered on Wednesday, October 10th with arrival planned in time for the Opening Lunch Reception at 12:30 PM and the bus will leave for the return trip at 5 PM. The cost of the ride is $30. Besides the Service Centers, pickups may be offered at Rochelle, Peru, and Dwight.
We ask you to please register in http://palsnet.info/events as soon as possible.
Questions about the rides should be addressed to Nancy Smith at nancys@palsnet.info or x4466.
It is the practice of the PALS business office to invoice the member library for the ride after the event. If you need other financial arrangements made, please notify Debbie Fowler at debbief@palsnet.info.

Banned Books Week, September 29–October 6, 2007: Free People Read Freely
Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read is observed during the last week of September each year. Observed since 1982, this annual ALA event reminds Americans not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted. This year, 2007, marks BBW's 26th anniversary (September 29 through October 6). BBW celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one’s opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them. After all, intellectual freedom can exist only where these two essential conditions are met. The ALA website has many resources to help you recognize Banned Books week, include a press kit, a free downloadable website image, background information and more.

News from Vendors
No News from Vendors this week.

Legislative/Advocacy News

Budget Veto Overrides
As reported in ILA Updates, the governor vetoed more than $450 million from the budget passed by the Illinois General Assembly. Among the items vetoed were an additional one million dollars in library per capital grants benefiting all Illinois public libraries, and many member initiatives providing funding to specific libraries for local projects. Governor Blagojevich vetoed many such projects simply because they were requested by House Democrats or Senate Republicans, while identical projects requested by House Republicans and Senate Democrats were left in the budget. Prior to passing the budget, all four legislative leaders (Illinois Senate President Emil Jones, the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives Michael J. Madden, Illinois Senate Minority Leader Frank C. Watson, and Illinois House of Representatives Minority Leader Tom Cross) agreed that both chambers would vote to override any budget vetoes by the governor. However, Illinois Senate President Emil Jones has since announced that he will now not allow an override motion to be considered in the Illinois Senate. Speaker Madigan still intends to vote on overriding the governor's budget vetoes. The Illinois House of Representatives plans to vote on motions to override the first week of October. In advance of the October vote, the house also plans to convene hearings around the state highlighting the adverse effects of the governor's vetoes.

ILA asks that every ILA member contact their local legislators and ask each to support overriding the governor's vetoes of library funding. Specifically, ILA members should ask their local senator to personally file a motion to override the governor's veto of library funding. ILA will advise the Illinois library community as soon as possible where and when the house budget hearings will be held, and we encourage you to attend those hearings to voice opposition to the governor's budget cuts. As a point of information, to override the governor's veto, a three-fifths supermajority is required.

Senate Bill (SB) 186, Working Cash Funds
In addition to these budgetary concerns, ILA also urges all public library districts to contact their local legislators and ask support an override of the veto of Senate Bill (SB) 186, Working Cash Funds. As background information, this bill passed in the Illinois Senate Local Government Committee unanimously, it passed the Illinois Senate unanimously, it passed in the Illinois House of Representatives Local Government Committee unanimously, and it passed in the Illinois House of Representatives 113 to 2. Clearly, this bill enjoys broad bipartisan support. It addresses the management of public library district working cash funds by adopting provisions consistent with other units of local government, such as park districts and schools. On Friday, 17 August, Governor Blagojevich vetoed SB 186. Public library districts are entitled to establish working cash funds for a period of four tax years, but the tax years need not be consecutive; the establishment of a working cash fund is subject to a back door referendum. The bill updates the annual limit on the maximum size of a working cash fund to 0.2 percent of the 1998 cash value of taxable property; clarifies that interest earned from temporarily idle funds may be transferred to the general fund; and allows library districts to reestablish working cash funds by the same method as originally created, meaning they are subject to a back door rather than a front door referendum. The governor's stated reason was, "Senate Bill 186 allows the reestablishment of a working cash fund without a referendum. For this reason, I hereby veto and return Senate Bill 186." With the bill returned to the Illinois Senate, it is time for both chambers to override the veto.

Grant News

Grants Available for Final Round of Renowned “Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature –Identity and Imagination” Reading and Discussion Series
ALA, CHICAGO – The American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office (PPO) and Nextbook, an organization dedicated to promoting Jewish culture, arts and ideas, are pleased to announce a new round of grants for, “Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature – Identity and Imagination,” a theme-based reading and discussion series. Public and academic libraries are encouraged to apply for this final round of grants under the “Jewish Literature: Identity and Imagination theme.” Based on the “Let’s Talk About It” reading and discussion series model introduced nationally by ALA in 1982, “Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature” features scholar-led discussions that delve into first-rate contemporary and classic Jewish literature. Over the past four years, more than 250 “Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature” grants have been awarded to libraries in 43 states nationwide.

Participating libraries will each host a five-part discussion series featuring one of six themes. Among these is “Modern Marvels: Jewish Adventures in the Graphic Novel” theme, marking the first national reading and discussion theme devoted to graphic novels. The book selections featured for the “Modern Marvels” theme are:
* “A Contract With God,” by Will Eisner
* “Maus I/II,” by Art Spiegelman
* “Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer: Stories,” by Ben Katchor
* “The Quitter,” by Harvey Pekar
* “The Rabbi’s Cat,” by Joann Sfar

Each library selected for the grant will receive:
* A $2,500 grant to support program costs and scholar honoraria.
* Training for the library project director at a national training workshop, where they will hear from project scholars, past participants and organizers and receive a program planning guide, materials and ideas.
* Program materials and information, including access to a site-support Web site, featuring introductory literature on each of the books, promotional materials and selections for additional reading.

The final round of “Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature – Identity and Imagination” grants will be awarded in 2008. Libraries that received a past grant and completed a “Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature” series are eligible to apply for a single-series grant of $2,500, or a two-series $5,000 grant. Complete guidelines and the application are available at www.ala.org/publicprograms or www.nextbook.org/ala. Applications are due by December 3, 2007. “Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature – Identity and Imagination” is funded by a multi-year grant from Nextbook.

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

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.