volume #5 issue#19

May 8, 2008

Prairie Views: the newsletter of the Prairie Area Library System

System News

Upcoming Graduates
Congratulations to 7 PALS member library staff who have or will be graduating this spring. Julie Harte Wasson, Jeff Munson, Shawn Stacey Choinard, Heather Klepitsch, Susan Green, and Marianne Siess are all University of Wisconsin – Madison students in the PALS cohort. Also congratulations to Marcia Brandt who graduates from the University of Illinois. As of this May, twenty one students will have graduated from the UW-Madison/PALS program. Congratulations, again, to everyone!

Driver Recognition Week
Once again, PALS is celebrating "Driver Recognition Week" next week, May 12 - 16, 2008. The men and women that drive our twelve delivery routes work very hard, and we like to recognize their dedication for a few days each year. This year, PALS has gone over 50,000 items per week delivered - our volume has doubled since we became PALS and PrairieCat went live. And we all know what a fun winter it was to drive in! So, if you have a minute, say an extra thank you to your driver so they know how much we appreciate all they do. Thanks for helping us!

Thank You for Attending!
A big thank you to all who attended PALS Day 2008 at Starved Rock Lodge this week. We will be making handouts and pictures available via the PALS website shortly. We appreciate your feedback via the evaluation form you should have received.

PMPT Trivia Contest
At PALS Day this week, the PALS Marketing Power Team (PMPT) included the first PALS library trivia contest in the event packets. We are going to share the answers to the trivia contest through Prairie Views each week for the next few weeks. If you weren't able to attend PALS Day, the trivia contest is attached for you to try answering all 15 questions. If you would like to submit trivia about your library for our next contest, please send it to Judy Hutchinson at PALS, judyh@palsnet.info.

Question #1: Which PALS library was the first public library to open to the public in the state of Illinois, on November 25, 1872?
Answer: Rock Island Public Library

Question #2: This library has a single jail cell in it, thanks to the building's former use.
Answer: Annawan-Alba Public Library - are there other jail cells out there in our libraries?

The next meeting of the PALS Marketing Power Team is Wednesday, June 18, at 10:30 a.m. in person at the Highland Community College campus at Elizabeth, or via neighborhood videoconferening. The sharing topic for this meeting is a round robin panel discussion; bring a marketing problem and the group will brainstorm how to make it better. All are welcome, so please consider attending!

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

Continuing Education Elsewhere in the State
No events this week.

Member News

Forever Free Lincoln Exhibit Opening Invitation
The Moline Public Library is pleased to announce the opening of a new exhibition, “Forever Free: Abraham Lincoln’s Journey to Emancipation” on Saturday, June 14, 2008. The library is one of only 63 libraries in the United States selected to host the traveling exhibition, which was organized by The Huntington Library, San Marino, Calif., and the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, New York City, in cooperation with the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office. The library also wishes to thank Neil Dahlstrom for his initiative and assistance in making this exhibit available. “Forever Free” is made possible by major grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, created by Congress and charged with planning the national celebration of Lincoln’s 200th birthday. It is based on original documents about Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War, abolition, and the Emancipation Proclamation in the collections of the Huntington Library and the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. “Forever Free” examines Abraham Lincoln’s quest to restore a Union divided by Civil War and shows how his beliefs about freeing the slaves were transformed by war-time developments. From the beginning of the Civil War until his death, Lincoln evolved from a cautious moderate who was willing to see slavery continue for several decades in order to preserve the Union, to the “Great Emancipator,” who emphatically put an end to slavery in the United States. The exhibition explores the reasons for this change. We would like to invite you to the grand opening of the exhibition on Saturday, June 14th at 10 a.m. in the library meeting rooms. The library wishes to extend our thanks to the Friends of the Moline Public Library for their support of the exhibit’s grand opening, including their sponsorship of the portrayal of Abraham Lincoln by Michael Krebs of With Lincoln Productions during this event. We hope you can join us as we introduce this exciting exhibition to our community.

Missing Books - 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.

The Addison Public Library is giving away approximately 2000 Gressco KWIK DVD security cases (Gressco catalog # 89011), 2500 KWIK CD security cases (Gressco catalog # 89001), 50 KWIK extra capacity DVD security cases (Gressco catalog # 89014), and 25 KWIK double CD security cases (Gressco catalog # 89002). They are available in any quantity requested. A donation is appreciated but not required. Please contact Jennifer Handell at handell@addisonlibrary.org if interested.

FREE to a good home... Compaq server rack on wheels includes keyboard and slide out monitor app. 5' tall Must be able to move and haul away Contact Amy Lego Rock Falls Public Library 815-626-3958 rfdistrict@yahoo.com

St. Ambrose University Library 2007 Edition of The Foundation Directory If interested contact: Joyce Haack Phone (563) 333-6247 Email: haackjoycea@sau.edu

The Byron Public Library District has 5 Xerox black dry ink cartridges #6R244 Please call the Library at 815-234-5107.

Sterling High School is renovating the library, and we have a large number of 90" high cantilevered shelving units, some wall mounted shelving, and library tables and chairs, some counters for computer labs, and an older circulation desk available for a token donation. Shelving is in good shape, tables and chairs so-so. If you are interested, you will be responsible to disassemble, pick up and transport them. Please call to arrange a time to come and see these items. Items will be ready for pick up by approximately May 29. Attached is a link with a picture of these items.

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.

Human Resources Assistant
Fountaindale Public Library District, which proudly serves the diverse communities of Bolingbrook and Romeoville, Illinois, is seeking an experienced individual with a good eye for detail to join our library's team. Under direct supervision of the HR Manager, this full-time position provides administrative and clerical assistance on all personnel matters and payroll process to the HR Manager, Library Director and Board of Trustees. Requires prior knowledge of principals and practices of human resources. Prior experience with an HRIS database preferred. Minimum of one year experience in payroll (ADP).
Starting salary range: $14.50 per hour
Closing date: Until position is filled.
Send cover letter, resume and three references, including contact information, to:
Human Resources
Fountaindale Public Library District
300 W. Briarcliff Road
Bolingbrook, IL 60440
Email: Personnel@fountaindale.lib.il.us
EOE

Periodicals Assistant
Fountaindale Public Library District, which proudly serves the diverse communities of Bolingbrook and Romeoville, Illinois, is seeking an experienced individual to provide periodical services to the library district by ordering subscriptions and maintaining vendor accounts for standing orders and purchase orders for Periodical materials. LA/LTA Certificate a plus, one year library experience preferred
Starting salary: $12.50 per hour
Closing date: until position is filled.
Send cover letter, resume, and three professional references to:
Human Resources
Fountaindale Public Library District
300 W. Briarcliff Road
Bolingbrook, IL 60440
Email: Personnel@fountaindale.lib.il.us
Equal Opportunity Employer 05/2008

Technician I/Acquisitions
needed in the Learning Resource Center at Kankakee Community College to work part-time up to 30 hours per week. Duties include using automated systems such as Datatel and Voyager plus a variety of other means (phone, fax and vendor systems), preparing the LRC and non-LRC purchase order requests, invoicing and maintaining contacts with vendors for orders, claims, cancellations, returns and credits. Non-LRC areas include but not limited to the college president’s request, new faculty training and faculty library. Duties also include maintaining subscription orders for magazines, serials and standing orders (print reference and series) including annual renewals, cancellations and mid-year additions; working with faculty to order new audio visual materials for preview and/or purchase; maintaining records of review cycle for faculty; maintaining spreadsheets related to grants, book and AV orders, receipts, claims and invoices; receiving LRC acquisitions, inspects condition, and processes returns; managing organization and inventory of office and library supply cabinets; establishes and maintains filing units related to the LRC budget and grants; assisting with Photo ID creation; and maintaining policies and procedures for acquisitions related work.

High school graduation or equivalent required. Library Technical Assistance certificate preferred. Some college-level coursework with additional specialized or technical training courses (e.g. maintenance, general repair, and bookkeeping) or related work experience desirable. Ability to use Excel and Word required, with ability to input data at a minimum of 40 words per minute desirable. Demonstrated organizational skills, flexibility to provide a variety of services, and accuracy with detail preferred; good oral and written communication and telephone skills helpful.

Salary range begins at $11.08 per hour, without fringe benefits.
Screening begins May 12, 2008 and continues until the position is filled.
If interested, email cover letter and resume to hr@kcc.edu or fax 815 802 8101, web site www.kcc.edu
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER WITH A SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENT

Reference/Adult Services
Bradley Public Library District is looking for a full time enthusiastic, service oriented individual to join our staff. Consideration will be given to the applicant who possesses superb communication and technology skills and is a natural team player. The individual should likewise exhibit the ability to deal with the public in a pleasant and positive manner.

Responsibilities: - provide reference service - readers’ advisory services - ILL - teach computer classes - maintain Library’s web page - plan/facilitate adult programming - assist patrons on computers - collection development - fill in for circulation - newsletter, and bibliographies - other duties as assigned
Qualifications: MLS with one year of adult reference experience or BA with three years reference experience, or LTA with four years of reference experience.
This position is a full time (371/2 hrs/wk) and includes 1-2 evenings/wk and 1-2 weekends/mo. Salary based upon qualifications. Excellent benefit package.

Please send cover letter and resume to:
Renee Gorham, Library Director
Bradley Public Library Dst.
296 North Fulton Ave.
Bradley, Il 60915
Or email to rgorham@bradley.lib.il.us

Clerk I/Records
needed temporarily in the Learning Resource Center at Kankakee Community College to work part-time up to 30 hours per week June 2 through August 8, 2008. Duties include performing circulation desk activities which can include charging and discharging materials, bibliographic searches, patron file maintenance, monitoring telecourse testing, interlibrary loan activities, basic training in online and electronic tools, maintenance of LRC displays and reservations of AV, testing or other resources. Other duties include assisting students and visitors, answering the telephone and the reshelving of material. High school graduation or equivalent required. Some college-level coursework or related work experience desirable. Ability to use Excel and Word required, with ability to input data at a minimum of 40 words per minute desirable. Demonstrated organizational skills, flexibility to provide a variety of services, and accuracy with detail preferred; good oral and written communication and telephone skills helpful. Salary range begins at $8.66 per hour, without fringe benefits. Screening begins May 12, 2008 and continues until the position is filled. If interested, email cover letter and resume to hr@kcc.edu or fax 815 802 8101, web site www.kcc.edu AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER WITH A SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENT

Learning Resource Assistant I - (evening hours required) Part-time
Sauk Valley Community College, a comprehensive community college located in a picturesque rural setting in northwestern Illinois, invites applications from innovative individuals for a Learning Resource Center Assistant I (part-time opening). Located 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 Learning Resource Center Assistant performs technical, secretarial, and clerical procedures in the Learning Resource Center; and supervises the LRC during evening (in the absence of the LRC Coordinator and Librarian). This position will create, copy, code, verify, and edit information (bibliographic, holdings, and item records) in the LRC's I- Share Voyager Endeavor system using OCLC's Connexion service. The LRC Assistant will also maintain and provide instruction in the use of the Endeavor Voyager Circulation, OPAC, cataloging, report and Call slips software modules.

Qualifications: Assocciate's degree and 1 year of library experience is required; bachelor's degree is preferred. Experience or training in relevant computer work and library technologies preferred. Excellent communication skills and customer service orientation required.

Review of applications will begin immediately; however, to ensure full consideration please submit application information by May 19th. Interested individuals should see complete details and requirements of the position on Sauk's website at www.svcc.edu (click on Inside Sauk and Employment Opportunities). Please send letter of interest, resume, and contact information for three (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

Youth Services Librarian
The Coal City Public Library District is currently seeking a Youth Services Librarian. The candidate should be a creative, energetic, enthusiastic, service-oriented individual. The library serves a population district of 9392. Duties include planning, organizing, and conducting programs for children birth through five, with other department responsibilities. Must be able to work evenings and Saturdays, Requirements include an Associate’s Degree or equivalent in experience and education, experience in the field of teaching or librarianship, supervisory experience, good communication with children and adults, and computer experience. Starting salary is $10.88 per hour. Please attach a resume to the application. Applications are available at:
Coal City Public Library District
85 N. Garfield St.
Coal City, IL 60416

Reference Librarian – Part Time
Primary Purpose: Provide reference desk coverage and information literacy instruction to the College community.
• Classification: Faculty/Part-time
• Range: $27.21 Hourly
• Minimum Qualifications: Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science or closely related field; course work to include 3 graduate reference courses. Prior successful library reference/instruction experience preferred.
• Beginning Fall 2008; Hours to be determined and will include some evenings and Saturdays; flexibility required.
• Application Deadline: Application review begins May 23, 2008 and will be considered until filled. No fax/e-mail. Candidates should submit: (1) current resume; (2) letter of application including a statement of commitment to the community college and teaching; (3) transcripts; (4) names, addresses and phone numbers of three references to:

Office of Human Resources
McHenry County College
8900 U. S. Highway 14
Crystal Lake, IL 60012
www.mchenry.edu

“Equal Opportunity Employer, Committed to Diversity in its College Community”

Library Supervisor
Freeport Public Library is currently seeking an energetic Library Supervisor who, under the direction of the Library Director, will be responsible for supervisory and professional assignments throughout the new 40,000 square foot library, including the Adult, Circulation, Technical, and Youth Services Departments, and ranging from roving reference to cataloging. Applicants must have a Master’s degree in Library Science from an ALA accredited school or a Bachelor’s degree and 5 to 8 years experience in increasingly responsible and successful library management. The successful applicant will have an engaging, outgoing personality. He/she will be approachable, with a can-do attitude, and good oral communications skills. He/she must have strong skills in working with public of all ages and varying degrees of comfort with technology, and be able to bring these skills to subject searches and advanced information retrieval. Must be able to work some evenings and weekends. Salary range of $37,312 to $53,256. Please send résumé, cover letter and the names of three professional references to:
Amanda DeLong, Human Resource Manager
City of Freeport
230 W. Stephenson Street
Freeport, IL 61032
or email: adelong@cityoffreeport.org.

Applications must be received by May 27, 2008.

Young Adult Services Manager
Manhattan Public Library District
Creative, organized and collaborative person desired for 30 hours per week including evening and Saturday hours.

• Plans and conducts all programs and activities including a 9 week Summer Reading Program
• Supervises department and its staff
• Provides outreach programs to schools
• Conducts tours as requested
• Responsible for book selection according to library policy
• Attends job appropriate workshops, classes and meetings
• Is able to perform all Library Clerk duties
• Computer skills required.
• Handles reference questions
• Performs other duties as requested. Experience working with teens a plus.

$10 - $14 dependant on qualifications. MLS, LTA or library experience required. Taking applications until position is filled. Please send cover letter, resume and 3 references with contact information to:
Barb Hnetkovsky, Assistant Director
Manhattan Public Library District
P.O. Box 53
Manhattan, IL 60442
815-478-3987 ext. 204
Fax 815-478-3988

Library Technical Assistant
Highland Community College is accepting applications for a full-time Library Technical Assistant. This position requires working some evening and Saturday hours. Associate’s Degree required with one year library experience preferred. Some relevant experience to include familiarity with library activities, computer experience, organizational skills and proofreading skills. The successful candidate will enjoy working with a diverse population of students and faculty. Attention to detail and strong interpersonal skills are essential.

Send a letter of application, resume, and names/phones of 3 references to:
Associate Vice President, Human Resources,
Highland Community College
2998 W. Pearl City Road
Freeport, IL 61032.

Applications received by May 19th will receive first consideration. For further information see www.highland.edu.
HCC is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from women and minorities.

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

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

Public Library News
No Public Library News this week.

Academic Library News
No Academic Library News this week.

Special Library News
No Special Library News this week.

Support Staff News
No Support Staff News this week.

Technology Services News
No Technology Services News this week.

E-Rate Corner
No E-Rate Corner this week.

New Books at PALS

Library 2.0 and Beyond: Innovative Technologies and Tomorrow’s User. Ed. by Nancy Courtney, c2007. This book is a good overview of several topics of the Library 2.0 world as it stands today. Topics include such things as wikis and library applications; Web 2.0 vs. Library 2.0; Mashups; online social networking; folksonomies and tagging; virtual worlds, and digital storytelling. Each chapter is authored by people who are very familiar with their topic including Lori Bell and Tom Peters. This book is catalogued and available through PrairieCat.

Library News Around the State & Nation

2008 Illinois Library Association (ILA) Election Results
The results of the 2008 Executive Board election are in and the following have been elected:

Vice-President/President-Elect
Carole A. Medal, Gail Borden Public Library District
Carole Medal will begin her three-year term on July 1, 2008, running through June 30, 2011.

Board of Directors (a three-year term beginning July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2011).

Director-at-Large:
Diana Brawley Sussman, Southern Illinois Talking Book Center
Dianne Happ, Peoria Public Library
Betsy Adamowski, Itasca Community Library
Theodore C. Schwitzner, Illinois State University

Camila Alire Elected 2009-2010 ALA President
(ALA, CHICAGO) Camila Alire, dean emerita at the University of New Mexico and Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo., has been elected president of the American Library Association (ALA) for the 2009-2010 term. Alire won over J. Linda Williams, Coordinator of Library Media services for Anne Arundel County Public Schools in Annapolis, Md. Alire will become president-elect in July 2008, and will assume the ALA presidency in July 2009, following the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. She will serve a one-year term as president.

Call for Applications - Abraham Lincoln: Self-Made in America Learning Station Exhibit
As part of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Celebration in 2009, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, in collaboration with the American Library Association and the Tribeca Film Institute and with funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, We the People program, has produced Abraham Lincoln: Self-Made in America. This exhibit is composed of seven learning stations and has been designed for public spaces, libraries, historical societies, and other cultural or educational institutions that can demonstrate a willingness and design to showcase the exhibit as an integral part of their community outreach. For more information on how your institution can be part of this monumental bicentennial event, visit http://www.lincoln200.net/alplmf/

Illinois Blue Books
Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White has just published the 2007-2008 edition of the Illinois Blue Book, and every library in Illinois will be receiving a copy during the coming weeks. The Illinois State Library will be distributing them through the Illinois Library Delivery Service (ILDS), and then through PALS delivery, but it will take a little while to distribute all copies. Additionally, because the school year is ending for school libraries, they are going to wait until September to distribute copies for school libraries. The Illinois Blue Book is one of the most valuable reference tools available for information about the state of Illinois and Illinois government.

News from Vendors
No News from Vendors this week.

Legislative/Advocacy News

Preparing for Legislative Visits
At an April 16 webinar presented by the ALA Washington Office, advocacy guru Stephanie Vance shared some excellent ways library staff can not only prepare for Library Legislative Day on May 13–14, but also prepare for other advocacy efforts at any level of government. Some of you heard Stephanie speak at PALS Day this week, and know that her tips are practical and doable. The webinar is still available at: http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=452

Grant News
No Grant News this week.

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.