Online Update, Vol. 2, No. 2, Jan. 23, 2004 -- South Central Library System Marketing and Public Relations

Cross is new PLD director at DPI

State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster recently named Michael Cross the new director of the Public Library Development Team in the Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning at the Department of Public Instruction (DPI)

Cross, who has been the acting director since the retirement of Larry Nix, has worked for the DPI since 1998 as consultant for Public Library Administration and Funding. Before coming to the DPI he served as the director of the Arrowhead Library System from 1994-97 and director of the Northern Waters Library Service from 1990-94.

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Middleton Library enters final phase of renovation

An expanded and renovated Middleton Public Library will open for business Monday, March 1, at 9 a.m., but from Feb. 2-29 the library will provide limited services and hours of operation.

During February, patrons will still be able to:

continue to place holds remotely and designate the Middleton Public Library as a pick-up location;
continue to return items to the Middleton outside book drop 24/7 and to the lobby book drop during designated hours;
pick up holds in the Archer Meeting Room on the library's lower level from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.;
browse from a limited selection of new books and other materials.

Although library staff will not be able to answer the phone during the final weeks of renovation, callers may leave a message on the voice-mail system at (608) 831-5564.

"The noise, dust and disruptions don't seem to faze people at all," said Director Paul Nelson, who noted that library use has increased significantly during the construction and renovation period. "It's as if nothing will stop them from visiting their library."

A formal re-dedication program is scheduled for Friday, April 23, coinciding with National Library Week.

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WiLS offers digital library conference

"Bringing the Pieces Together" is the theme of a one-day WiLS conference intended to begin discussion on coordinating access to Wisconsin's digitized historical resources. A primary objective is to identify options for linking Wisconsin's various digital library collections. The conference also is an opportunity to discuss methods for promoting broad public awareness of digital resources and for attracting future funding.

The conference fee is $35 before March 1 (buffet lunch included) and $50 after March 1. For more information about the conference, or to register, visit www.wils.wisc.edu/events/dgtdev/digit04/.

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ALA, NEH offer 'We The People Bookshelf' grants

The American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) are accepting applications from public and school (K-12) libraries for We The People Bookshelf grants.

Part of NEH's We The People initiative, the Bookshelf project will award the sets of 15 books for young readers to 500 libraries across the country. Selected libraries are required to present programs that highlight the theme of courage and encourage young readers to explore these works.

<>Libraries interested in receiving the We The People Bookshelf grant can view the application and guidelines at www.ala.org/wethepeople or www.wethepeople.gov. Applications will be accepted online until Feb. 15, 2004.

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WebJunction community focused on demonstrating library impact<

The WebJunction community -- http://webjunction.org -- is currently focused on how libraries, with a little strategy, presentation and determination for innovation, can demonstrate the impact they have in their communities.

Check out WebJunction's Roadmap for step-by-step demonstration of impact solutions, from the simple to the sophisticated.

Register for "What We're Worth: Alternative Funding for Libraries," a live event with special guest Steve Coffman on Feb. 4. Space is limited, and you can register at the WebJunction home page.

Visitors also can share ideas for demonstrating impact with other WebJunction members in the site's Fundraising & Development forum. There will be a special moderated discussion Feb. 4-6 following the event with Steve Coffman.

Site visitors also can share an inspirational success story of how their library is already demonstrating impact in their community. Visitors are eligible to win a copy of "The Library's Contribution to Your Community," a seminal workbook on communicating impact to your community partners, funders, and patrons (a $200 value!).

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Applications available for Human Rights
video collection and public program grants

The American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office and National Video Resources (NVR) recently announced a new grant project for public libraries, the Human Rights Video Project. Supported by a grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Ford Foundation, the Human Rights Video Project will award grants to 300 public libraries nationwide.

Two types of grants are available through the Human Rights Video Project. The first, supported by the MacArthur Foundation, will provide packages of 12 videos and supporting materials on human rights topics to 250 public libraries in the U.S.

Through the second grant, supported by the Ford Foundation, an additional 50 public libraries will receive the sets of videos, supporting materials, and $750 to present public programs on human rights topics in partnership with a non-profit community activist organization.

Libraries interested in applying for the grants can download an application and guidelines at www.ala.org/publicprograms or www.nvr.org. Applications must be received by March 1, 2004.

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2004 John Cotton Dana Library
Public Relations Award winners announced

Seven libraries are winners of the John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award, which recognizes and honors outstanding achievement in library public relations. This award, jointly sponsored by The H. W. Wilson Company, Bronx, N.Y., and the Library Administration and Management Association (LAMA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has been awarded continuously since 1946.

"The award recipients represent creative and effective public relations campaigns that responded to real community needs and produced real results in terms of improving public awareness and use of libraries, their programs and collections," said Peter Deekle, award committee chair.

The 2004 awards will be presented to:

For more information visit the ALA News web page.

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Member/Staff News

Monroe Public Library staff member Marilyn Sullivan passed away Saturday, Jan. 10. A lifetime resident of Green County, Marilyn worked at the library 16 years, splitting her time between serving patrons at the reference desk and dealing with technology services issues. Marilyn also delivered books to homebound patrons. She is survived by her husband, three children and two grandchildren.

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Upcoming CEs

January 28, 2004 -- Best New Books for Younger Children. Four Lakes Distance Learning Network, with Kathleen T Horning, Merri Lindgren, Hollis Rudiger & Megan Schliesman, CCBC Librarians, 3:45-5:00 p.m. Network sites: (K-12 schools unless indicated.) Belleville, DeForest, Edgewood College, Lodi, McFarland, Middleton/Cross Plains, Monona Public Library, Monroe, Oregon, Pyle Center/UW Madison, Randolph, River Valley-Spring Green, Stoughton, Verona, Waunakee & WTCN-Wisconsin Rapids.

February 6, 2004 -- New Tools for Enhancing Digital Reference, Reference Teleconference Series (DuPage), 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Downlink sites: Marshfield Clinic; MATC Campus-Reedsburg; Mid-State Technical College, Wisconsin Rapids, Monona Public Library, Pyle Center, UW-Madison; & UW-Stevens Point.

February 11, 2004 -- Best New Books for Older Children & Teens with Kathleen T Horning, Merri Lindgren, Hollis Rudiger & Megan Schliesman, CCBC Librarians, Four Lakes Distance Learning Network, 3:45-5:00 p.m., Network sites: (K-12 schools unless indicated.) Adams-Friendship, Almond-Bancroft, Auburndale, Belleville, DeForest, Edgewood College, Lodi, McFarland, Middleton/Cross Plains, Monona Public Library, Monroe, Oregon, Pyle Center/UW Madison, Randolph, River Valley-Spring Green, Stoughton, Verona, Waunakee & WTCN-Wisconsin Rapids.

February 13, 2004 -- Follow Trails to Your Library Craft Workshop (SLP 2004) with Patti Sinclair, time and site TBA.

February 19 & 20, 2004 -- The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (Part 1), with John Bales, Superintendent, DeForest Public Schools & Jan Berg, Director, DeForest Public Library, 4-8 p.m. & 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at DeForest Public Library.

March 4 & 5 -- The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (Part 2), with John Bales, Superintendent, DeForest Public Schools & Jan Berg, Director, DeForest Public Library 4-8 p.m. & 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at DeForest Public Library.

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For more information about marketing and public relations, contact Mark Ibach at (608) 246-5612 or by email.

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