Online Update

Index

Support of legislative listening sessions is vital
SCLS offers information on parental access to children's library records
Columbia County teens read 82,800 minutes
Question of the Week
Winnefox Library System to host book fair
‘Creating Policies for Results’ online course begins soon
Free Access available to PLA ‘Results’ series work forms
NJ markets ‘Super Librarian’ character
Upcoming CEs

 

Support of legislative listening sessions is vital

To better communicate with incumbent legislators and candidates for the State Senate and Assembly, legislative listening sessions are being planned by five SCLS member libraries, one each in the 14th, 16th, 17th, 26th, and 27th Senate Districts.

The decision to hold only one meeting per senate district requires that many library representatives will have to travel, but it provided a more manageable schedule of meetings. Because more travel will be required, we’re asking that library communities make every effort to bring a representative delegation to their area’s meeting.

As we’ve stressed in letters and e-mails, libraries need legislative support on many issues, and at many times during the year. If we conduct listening sessions but fail to generate a good turnout, we risk losing credibility with legislators. In addition to encouraging the attendance of patrons, staff, local elected officials, and other library supporters, we’re asking that you encourage the participation of legislators and candidates. Let them know that you will take a delegation to the meeting and that you look forward to hearing their views on library issues.

The host libraries, legislative districts, and member libraries in those districts are as follows.

• Madison -- Senate District 26 and Assembly Districts 76, 77 & 78 -- Ashman, Meadowridge, Monroe Street, Sequoya, and South Madison Branches
• DeForest -- Senate District 16 and Assembly Districts 46, 47 & 48 -- Cambria, Lodi, Madison’s Hawthorne and Pinney Branches, Marshall, McFarland, Monona, Poynette, Rio, Stoughton, and Sun Prairie
• Middleton -- Senate District 27 and Assembly Districts 79, 80 & 81 -- Albany, Belleville, Black Earth, Brodhead, Cross Plains, Madison’s Lakeview Branch, Mazomanie, Monroe, Monticello, Mt. Horeb, New Glarus, Oregon, Verona, and Waunakee
• Plain -- Senate District 17 and Assembly Districts 50 & 51 -- LaValle, North Freedom, Prairie du Sac, Reedsburg, Rock Springs, Sauk City, and Spring Green
• Portage -- Senate District 14 and Assembly District 42 -- Baraboo, Pardeeville , and Wisconsin Dells

Please watch for announcements of listening session dates and times from the host libraries. The system will provide press releases, posters, issue papers, and other assistance to help you prepare your library representatives to participate in these sessions.

If you have questions, please contact Mark Ibach at (608) 246-5612 or by email.

 

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SCLS offers information on parental access to children's library records

In an effort to help clarify the issue of parental access to children’s library records, the South Central Library System now has information available online.

Cheryl Becker and Shawn Brommer compiled the information in response to requests and questions about Act 207, and the changes in the law regarding parental access to children's records.

The information is available at psw.scls.lib.wi.us/management/law/act207.html.

 

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Columbia County teens read 82,800 minutes

Columbia County teens read 82,800 minutes -- or 1,380 hours -- in the 2nd annual Columbia County Teen Reading Program held June 14 through July 14. The grand prize drawing winners of 2 DVD players out of 690 entries were Kassandra Vaness of Portage and Leah Winden of Wisconsin Dells.

The program also awarded $20 gift certificates to 16 participants, two at each participating library. The public libraries in each community sponsored this program in the spirit of fun, cooperation and money saving.

In other news, the July 4 parade float sponsored by the Columbus Public Library won 1st place (and $100) in the commercial division in the city’s 4th of July parade.

 

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Question of the Week

We’ve implemented this feature to gain greater insight into the types of issues librarians address on a regular basis. Responses to these questions may be used to help guide development of library marketing and public relations tools, or to develop other program or training materials.

Your involvement will help us better meet your needs, so we encourage your regular participation. It may also be necessary for us to follow-up with you, so please include your full name, library name, and phone number.

This week’s question is: Do you have a favorite Web site for answering people's questions about statistics?

Please send responses to Mark Ibach.

 

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Winnefox Library System to host book fair

Winnefox Cooperative Technical Services, a service program of the Winnefox Library System, is hosting a Wisconsin Publisher Book Fair Aug. 17 in Berlin.

The fair will be held from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Berlin Public Library, 121 West Park Avenue. Publishers scheduled to attend include: Badger Books, Badger House, Guest Cottage, Home Brew Press, Prairie Oak Press, Raven Tree Press, Trails Books, UW Press, Wisconsin State Historical Society, plus others.

To register for the book fair, send an e-mail to wallace@winnefox.org or call Cindy at (920) 361-1916.

 

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‘Creating Policies for Results’ online course begins soon

e-learning@PLA and eLearn Libraries will offer a new session of the online course “Creating Policies for Results: From Chaos to Clarity,” beginning September 20.

This innovative desktop learning course leads library managers through every step required to write effective library policies. Find more information on the PLA website at www.pla.org/ala/pla/plaevents/elearningpla/elearningpla.htm, including course demonstrations and registration information.

Cheryl Becker has completed the course, so if you want to know more about the course and its content, contact her an email.

 

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Free Access available to PLA ‘Results’ series work forms

The Public Library Association and E-Learn Libraries Inc. have collaborated to provide librarians who purchased the books in the "Results" series free access to electronic versions of the work forms. Forms are available in Word and Excel when appropriate. Those now available with instructions are for the series “Creating Policies for Results,” “The New Planning for Results,” and “Staffing for Results.”

The SCLS Professional Collection owns a copy of each, but the Web site for the forms is www.elearnlibraries.com/workforms/index.html.

 

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NJ markets ‘Super Librarian’ character

Last fall, the New Jersey State Library, in partnership with the NJ Library Association and the NJ Library Network, began the first major marketing campaign in the library system’s history. The goal of the campaign is to educate the public about the wealth of resources offered by the state’s 451 libraries, as well as to help dispel misconceptions about both libraries and librarians.

The campaign centered around a television commercial that aired on cable networks statewide. Other campaign elements include posters featuring the “Super Librarian” character, a new Web site (www.njlibraries.org) for the public, signage, and promotional items.

If you’re looking for ways to promote libraries and librarianship in your community, you may find some new ideas at www.njlibraries.org/Resources/index.htm.

 

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Continuing Education --