Online Update

Index

Hussin retires after 8 years at SCLS
Patrons still needed for SCLS video project
Please update directory information on SCLS website
Member/Staff News
Marshfield and Portage County Public Libraries receives grant for book discussion group
Court Q & A sessions offered in 2005
WebJunction offers training assistance
CEs

 

Hussin retires after 8 years at SCLS

Donna Hussin, the continuing education coordinator at South Central Library System since April 1996, will retire effective Dec. 30.

Selected highlights from her years at SCLS include:

• overseeing an Educational Technology Board grant that helped expand computer use and proficiency among library staff members.
• implementation of satellite teleconferences and the later purchase of a compressed video system to more efficiently deliver continuing education programs to the libraries in Adams, Portage and Wood Counties.
• creation of a partnership with the College of DuPage in October 1997 for continuing education programming.
• working with CESA 5 to create a consortium called STAIRS (Successful Technology and Information Resource Strategies) to help integrate technology tools into the K-12 curriculum and facilitate various professional development opportunities for school district and public library staff to become technology-capable, comfortable, and effective using a variety of information and technology resources to achieve professional goals for themselves and their students/patrons.
• contracting for train-the-trainer sessions for public library staff to help them learn how to create and teach workshops on various information resource topics and software application programs at their libraries.
• using STAIRS funds, SCLS contracted with the School of Library and Information Studies to develop training scripts for public libraries to offer Internet workshops on consumer information, hobbies, scrap booking, taxes, digital photography, and travel. These were posted to the SCLS Technology Training web page.
• surveying public library staff in 11 technology areas to determine the training still needed to further improve their computer and Internet knowledge and skills. Based on the results, 20 individual online course subscriptions through OCLC MindLeaders and UW School of Library and Information Studies Ed2Go programs were purchased and offered on a first come first serve basis to 20 public library staff.
• developing a new partnership with Madison Area Technical College to teach Windows 2000 to prepare public library staff for migration to a new LINK system.
• using STAIRS funds, planned and implemented a wireless computer lab that our public libraries can borrow to offer hands-on workshops and conduct presentations.
• more hands-on workshops on the databases SCLS provides. Using the concept of contract trainers, SCLS conducted a pilot in 2004 and the program will be fully implemented in 2005.
• facilitated the development of scripts by member library staff on Microsoft Word 2000 Basics, Excel 2000 Basics, PowerPoint 2000 Basics, and Get a Free E-Mail Account, which were added to the SCLS web page. Two more scripts on “Using the IPAC of LINKCat” and “Small Business on the Internet” were contracted and will be available in early 2005.

Join us in wishing Donna all the best in her life’s work after SCLS. Thank you for all you have done on behalf of SCLS member libraries!

 

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Patrons still needed for SCLS video project

South Central Library System is still in need of library patrons who are willing to be videotaped talking about the value of their library and the important role it plays in their lives. It should not be library employees, trustees, or members of Friends groups or library foundations.

To date, we’ve received responses from only three libraries, but still need more names to pull this project together.

You’ve all heard stories of how your library has changed someone’s life, and this is an opportunity to have those amazing anecdotes compiled with others from around the system. The finished product, which will be testament to the important work library staff members perform each day, will be available to libraries free of charge.

Each library should submit only one name, and we ask that you obtain permission before you forward their name and phone number to SCLS. It would also be helpful to have a very brief description of their comments so we can get sufficient content diversity.

We want to get started on this project immediately so it can be ready for the SCLS Annual Meeting, but we need more names before we can proceed with scripting and taping. Please send the names and phone numbers by Dec. 23 to Mark Ibach.

 

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Please update directory information on SCLS website

In the Nov. 19 and Dec. 3 issues of Online Update libraries were asked to review their directory information on the South Central Library System Website, make the necessary changes, or indicate that there are no changes. As of the Dec. 13 extended deadline, there are still about 30 libraries that have not reviewed their data.

If you review your data and there are no changes, it is imperative that you still go to the online form and enter your library’s name and type “no changes” in the address line. This is the only way we have of determining which libraries have reviewed their contact information.

The data from this website will be used to create the printed version of the 2005 South Central Library System Directory of Public Libraries, which is made available to member libraries each year. But we need your help to ensure each library’s information is correct.

To get the printed directory distributed as soon as possible in 2005, we’re asking one last time that you take a few minutes before Dec. 23 to make sure your library’s information is current. Begin by visiting psw.scls.lib.wi.us/pro/directory.html and selecting your library from the list, review the information presented there, then proceed to the online form at psw.scls.lib.wi.us/directories/directoryform.html (there is a link at the top of the page) and make the appropriate changes. If your library’s information is correct, follow the directions in the second paragraph above.

Information not updated by Dec. 23 will be assumed correct and included as is in the printed directory.

 

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Member/Staff News

The Rosemary Garfoot Public Library (Cross Plains) building project fund raising campaign recently received a $250,000 donation from the Kuehn Family Foundation. The donation will be made in memory of Joe Kuehn, who established the fund a number of years ago.

 

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Marshfield and Portage County Public Libraries receive grant for book discussion group

Marshfield Public Library and Portage County Public Library have been awarded a joint Wisconsin Humanities Council grant entitled, "Central Wisconsin Reads: The Future of Peace." The libraries will conduct communitywide readings and discussions of Scott A. Hunt's “The Future of Peace: On the Front Lines with the World's Great Peacemakers.” The primary goal will be to examine and incorporate the ways of peaceful leaders into personal lives and community spirit.

During a 10-week period, both libraries will promote reading of the book, then community groups -- such as the Business and Professional Women, Rotary, Marshfield Area Women's club, the Hispanic Outreach Group - AHORA, and Marshfield Social Justice -- will be presented with the discussion idea and invited to participate. The Marshfield area public and parochial schools/churches and the home educators also will be asked for their involvement. Individuals will be encouraged to join in the "community read" through library displays.

Multiple copies of the book will be available in both the Marshfield and Portage County libraries. To close this project, author Scott A. Hunt will be brought from San Francisco to promote and lead the discussions on the tenets of peace leading. By examining the lives and values of peace leaders, the libraries hope to bring greater individual commitment to community enrichment and inclusiveness.

Hunt also will moderate a UW-Marshfield/Wood County session in their "Windows on the World Series." This session involves religious representatives of the Jewish, Muslim and Christian faiths discussing the role of religion in peacemaking. The UW series is loosely based on The Future of Peace.

 

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Court Q & A sessions offered in 2005

Ever wondered what it is like to work in the legal system or in the courthouse? Maybe you have a question about a specific court program or service? Now's your chance to ask!

On the first Tuesday of each month, 12-1 p.m. in Courtroom 2B of the Dane County Courthouse, representatives from the court and legal systems of Dane County will be available to answer your questions. This program is not intended for questions soliciting legal advice.

Mark your calendars for the 2005 scheduled dates of Jan. 4, Feb. 1, March 1, April 5, May 3, June 7, July 5, Aug. 2, Sept. 6 and Oct. 4.

For more information, contact the Dane County Legal Resource Center at (608) 266-6316. Posters to advertise this event in your library are available upon request.

 

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WebJunction offers training assistance

Training staff and patrons continues to be an integral part of working in a public library. If you would like more help in this area, or are thinking about conducting group patron training in your library, you will find a variety of helpful tools at OCLC's WebJunction.

Below is a brief description of the kind of resources you will find there to help you lead training sessions. The site includes everything you need to design and set up a training program, including:

• Developing a Training Program: information on determining the learning and training needs in your library.
• Training the Trainer: resources for creating and delivering effective training lessons.
• Tools for Training: lesson plans, presentation aids, and suggestions to make your training sessions more effective.

For more information, visit webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=540.

 

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Continuing Education -- psw.scls.lib.wi.us/ce/

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