Index

Remember to register for Annual Meeting
System Celebration date changed to Sept. 9
AB 169 takes effect April 23
CE grants awarded in March
McMillan librarians publish article on local history
Waunakee Public Library announces May 5 ‘Sleeping Beauty’
FOLUSA to honor Sen. Feingold
No Health Sciences Library Services May 29-June 20
Northwest Children's Book Conference slated Sept. 23 & 24
Vendors offer free content for National Library Week
FOLUSA announces new resources
ALA, Working Assets partner for voter registration drive
Member/Staff News
Upcoming CEs

 

Remember to register for Annual Meeting

Member libraries are encouraged to register now for the 2004 South Central Library System Annual Meeting, to be held May 4 in the Commons at Olbrich Gardens in Madison.

A copy of the meeting agenda, registration form, and directions are available online at http://psw.scls.lib.wi.us/about/annualmeeting/index.html.

During lunch we will recognize our colleagues who have provided many years of service to the SCLS community, and we will offer a special welcome to library directors new to SCLS.

We ask that you complete the online registration form by April 27, 2004.

 

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System Celebration date changed to Sept. 9

Because of concerns raised about the scheduled date of the 2004 System Celebration, the South Central Library System Board decided this week to change the meeting date to Thursday, Sept. 9.

The event, which is our annual thank you to the staff, trustees, and mayors/village presidents of SCLS member libraries for their support and efforts throughout the year, will be held at the Dorf Haus restaurant in Roxbury (near Sauk City).

We will gather at 6 p.m. for a social hour, followed at 7 p.m. by dinner and a program. Award nomination forms have been mailed, but they are also available at http://psw.scls.lib.wi.us/about/systemceleb/index.html. Nominations may be made by library staff, trustees, Friends, citizens, etc. The deadline for the return of all nomination forms is Friday, April 23.

There have also been several requests about the possibility of having a poster session during the Sept. 9 System Celebration. Individual libraries are encouraged to prepare posters about a new construction or renovation project, a successful or unusual library program, or about a project to raise funds or obtain volunteer support for the library. If you are interested in preparing a poster for the session, submit notification of your intent to Mark Ibach (mibach@scls.lib.wi.us) by June 1.

 

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AB 169 takes effect April 23

A new law regulating the release of library records of children under the age of 16 goes into effect April 23. AB 169, which was signed into law by Gov. Jim Doyle as Act 207, requires that a library supported by public funds must, upon the request of a custodial parent or guardian of a child under the age of 16, disclose to the custodial parent or guardian all library records relating to the child’s use of the library’s documents or other materials, resources, or services.

For the complete text of the Act see http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2003/data/acts/03Act207.pdf.

The Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning (DLTCL) will provide more information about how libraries can comply with the new law.

 

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CE grants awarded in March

A total of $696.60 was awarded in March for Continuing Education grants. Below is a list of the programs and the people who attended.

WAPL Conference

• Lynn Borre, Lester Public Library of Rome
• Wendy Collins, Reedsburg Public Library
• Kris Houtler, Reedsburg Public Library
• Norma Jean LeMoine, Rock Springs Public Library
• Lore Ponshock, Lester Public Library of Rome

Stress Management for Women

• Deborrah Calli, Marshfield Public Library
• Pat Nennig, Marshfield Public Library

DNR Day for Discover New Trails Summer Library Program 2004

• Carissa Christner, Rosemary Garfoot Public Library, Cross Plains

 

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McMillan librarians publish article on local history

The Spring 2004 issue of Reference & User Services Quarterly contains an article written by Don Litzer, head of adult services, and Andy Barnett, assistant director, McMillan Memorial Library in Wisconsin Rapids.

The abstract for the article “Local History in E-Books and on the Web, One Library's Experience as Example and Model” says this case study (on pages 248-257) illustrates that digitization and Web publication of local history materials is within the technical and financial capabilities of even small libraries. It also indicates that such projects are valuable at several levels by

• adding to the historical record,
• providing exemplary service to a library's patrons, and
• affording opportunities for library collaboration with organizations and individuals within a community.

 

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Waunakee Public Library announces May 5 ‘Sleeping Beauty’

Playtime Productions, in cooperation with Waunakee Public Library, presents "Sleeping Beauty" May 5 at 7 p.m. in the Waunakee Community High School Auditorium.  No admission is charged, but donations are welcome to help defray expenses.

 

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FOLUSA to honor Sen. Feingold

Friends of Libraries U.S.A. (FOLUSA) will present its 2004 Public Service Award to Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Representative Bernard Sanders (D-VT). This commendation, which recognizes outstanding support for libraries by national leaders, will be presented on Library Legislative Day, May 4, during the American Library Association Washington Office's reception following the day's activities.
 
Feingold and Sanders are being honored for their work to protect the confidentiality of library records put at risk in the USA Patriot Act. Feingold (the only Senator to vote against the Patriot Act) introduced legislation to protect personal information last summer. "The American People want the FBI to be focused on preventing terrorism," Feingold said. "It makes sense to make some changes to the law to allow the FBI access to the information that it needs to prevent terrorism. But as more and more Americans are realizing, we do not need to change the values that constitute who we are as a nation in order to protect ourselves from terrorism. We can protect both our nation and our privacy and civil liberties."

 

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No Health Sciences Library services May 29-June 20

All three UW-Madison Health Sciences Libraries will be closed May 29 through June 20 while collections are moved to the new Health Sciences Learning Center (HSLC).

During that time there will be no access to hard copy journals, books, or other materials in the Middleton, Weston and Pharmacy libraries, and staff members will be minimally accessible via the library's e-mail reference service at askhslib@library.wisc.edu or voice mail at (608) 262-2020. The e-mail and voice mail will be monitored closely for urgent requests. Electronic journals and books will continue to be available during the move, and other campus libraries will remain open. See locations and hours at http://www.library.wisc.edu/libraries/.

The new Ebling library inside the HSLC is scheduled to open June 21 with full access to collections and services. It will house the entire collections of the Pharmacy Library, the Weston Clinical Sciences Center Library, and the Middleton Health Sciences Library under one roof.

The library was named after Paul R. Ebling, M.D., a 1955 graduate of the UW Medical School, whose estate made a generous contribution to the building project. To learn more about the Ebling Library and the HSLC visit http://www.hslc.wisc.edu/.

 

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Northwest Children's Book Conference slated Sept. 23 & 24

The Spooner Memorial Library, along with Northern Waters Library System, will again sponsor the Northwest Children's Book Conference, this year on Sept. 23 and 24 at the Schwan's Retreat and Conference Center in Trego. The conference is designed primarily for librarians, elementary and middle school teachers, parents, and day care workers.  The primary focus is children's literature and programs that enhance reading experiences.  The Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) will also give a presentation of the Best of Children's Literature in 2004.

For more information, including application materials, visit http://www.nwls.lib.wi.us/ncbc. The workshops for the full conference offer 5.5 CEUs, and this program is eligible for Continuing Education grant funds through the South Central Library System.

 

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Vendors offer free content for National Library Week

Online database vendors Gale and Xrefer will offer libraries free access to some of their databases during National Library Week (April 18-24).

Gale is providing access to 24 general knowledge, homework reference, history, biography, literature, business, and law databases. For a list of available resources, see http://www.gale.com/nlw/.

Xrefer is providing access to Xreferplus, their online "ready reference solution." It features full-text content from hundreds of reference books, with 1.7 million entries covering every major subject. To sign up for the one-week trial, visit http://www.xrefer.com/libraries/oneweektrial.jsp.

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FOLUSA announces new resources

Taking advantage of ideas that work is a vital component of a successful library, and two new resources from the Friends of Libraries USA (FOLUSA) will help libraries be more effective in raising money and garnering support.

Through its discussion list and a series of “Nuts and Bolts” workshops, FOLUSA has compiled more than 100 great ideas in a new book called “101+ Great Ideas for Libraries and Friends* (*Marketing, Fundraising, Friends Development and More!)” These ideas address fundraising, marketing public awareness, successful membership drives, programs, advocacy, and organizational effectiveness for Friends. It is available from FOLUSA for $65 plus shipping ($35 for members), and the South Central Library System has ordered a copy for its professional collection.

Also available from FOLUSA is “Making Our Voices Heard: Citizens Speak Out for Libraries.” Published in CD-ROM format with an accompanying workbook, this guide will take you and your group step-by-step through the advocacy process. The cost is $30 plus $2 for shipping ($20 plus shipping for members). SCLS will order a copy of this resource in the near future.

 

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ALA, Working Assets partner for voter registration drive

Libraries across the country will help make it easier for people to become registered voters. “Register to Vote @ Your Library” is a partnership of the American Library Association (ALA) and Working Assets. They will co-sponsor a voter registration page, http://www.yourvotematters.org/ala, where individuals can register to vote or update their registration information. Voters in all states except New Hampshire, North Dakota, and Wyoming are eligible to complete registration via this Web site.

The “Your Vote Matters” site was created by working Assets for participating nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations. When citizens register to vote through the site, they help raise finds for ALA’s library advocacy efforts, thanks to a grant from Working Assets.

ALA will award a $1,000 grant to the library that registers the largest number of votes through the Web site and grants of $500 to the first five libraries that register 500 individuals. Working Assets will underwrite the costs of producing tip sheets, bookmarks, and buttons for library workers to use in promoting voter registration in their communities. These materials can be requested online at http://www.ala.org/requestmaterials. For more information, contact Lainie Castel at (800) 545-2433, ext. 5050.

 

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Member/Staff News

Pat Powers, who has worked at the Columbus Public Library for the past 25 years, will retire when the library closes today (April 16, 2004).

Lisa Schumacher began work this week as an assistant in the children's area at the Monroe Public Library, and Carolyn Hardy will be doing processing and circulation.

Jan Skube recently joined the staff of Stoughton Public Library as a public services assistant, Sarah Bukrey is a new circulation clerk, and Sarah Hoke is a new clerical assistant.

New staff at Waunakee Public Library are Beth Johnson and Sarah Ottosen.

 

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Continuing Education --