Online Update

Mary Wepking is new CE coordinator

Mary Wepking, who currently is the Library Media Specialist at Brookfield Central High School near Milwaukee, is the new Continuing Education Coordinator for the South Central Library System.

Mary began her career as a high school English teacher/drama coach at Fennimore High School in 1981, and in 1992 earned her Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from UW-Milwaukee. She worked as the collection development coordinator and acquisitions/serials librarian at UW-Platteville from 1992-96, as the library media specialist at Nicolet High School from 1996-99 and at Dominican High School (Whitefish Bay) from 1999-2003. She also taught graduate-level courses at Cardinal Stritch University in 1999 and 2000, and at UW-Milwaukee in 2002.

She will begin her duties at SCLS June 20, 2005.

 

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Mt. Horeb implements supporting membership fee

For the past several months the Mt. Horeb Public Library has been preparing for the June 1, 2005, implementation of a Supporting Membership fee that will be charged to patrons from the Southwest Wisconsin Library System (Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Lafayette and Richland counties).

Copies of the materials sent to these Mt. Horeb patrons, as well as a fact sheet used in the library to better explain library funding issues, have been sent to all Dane County Public Libraries so they are aware of the new fee.

The new Mt. Horeb Supporting Membership fee is $100 per household per year (June 2005 through May 2006), but patrons from the Southwest Wisconsin Library System also can opt for a half-year membership for $60 or a three-month membership for $30.

For more information about the new fee, visit the Mt. Horeb Public Library website at www.mhpl.org/about/membership.html.

 

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Sample press release for SLP performers available online

As the start of the 2005 Summer Library Program nears, libraries are reminded about the sample promotional materials that can be tailored to fit their individual needs. In particular, there is a sample performer press release and performer descriptions at www.scls.info/pr/slp/performers.html.

For links to more SLP promotional materials, visit http://www.scls.info/pr/slp/. This page features a new link to the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) audio public service announcements that are available for download in mp3 format.

 

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Jo Zipsie to be honored June 8 at open house

Jo Zipsie, director of the Baraboo Public Library, will be honored June 8, 2005, for her 50 years of service to the library. Library staff members from throughout the SCLS are invited to the open house, which will be held at the library from 3-6 p.m. In addition to refreshments and reminiscing, there will be speakers at 5 p.m.

Contributions to the Jo Zipsie Book Fund can be made at the open house, or by mail to the Baraboo Public Library, Attn: Joe Zipsie Book Fund, 230 Fourth Ave., Baraboo, WI 53913.

 

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Posters sought for System Celebration 2005

System Celebration 2005 is still months away (Thursday, Sept. 15, at Morels restaurant in Middleton), but it’s not too early to begin thinking about presenting a poster during the evening’s social hour.

Individual libraries are encouraged to prepare posters about a new construction or renovation project, a successful or unusual library program, a successful advocacy project, or a project to raise funds or obtain volunteer support for the library. If you are interested in preparing a poster for the session, or would like to suggest an idea for a poster, contact Mark Ibach at (608) 246-5612 or by email by June 1, 2005.

System Celebration 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.

 

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725 patrons have offered to ‘speak up” for their library

Since the program was announced in a Nov. 30 memo to library directors, 725 library patrons have indicated their willingness to “speak up” for their library by signing the yellow campaign cards that are being displayed throughout the South Central Library System. That is up more than 300 since Feb. 18, 2005.

How well we marshal local patron support for the resources and programs provided by our public libraries will, in large measure, determine the level of influence we can achieve during budgetary and legislative discussions.

The goal of the campaign is to collect patron names and e-mail addresses so we can better educate them about the value and impact of the public library. This is an ongoing effort that can pay potentially significant dividends when we need patrons to “speak up” for libraries at the local, county, or state level.

If you need additional cards or posters (8.5x11 or 11x17), contact Mark Ibach at (608) 246-5612 or by email.

 

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Member/Staff News

Diana Skalitzky, director of the Marshall Community Library, had the following letter to the editor published in the May 18, 2005, edition of the Wisconsin State Journal: Book sales down; library usage up -- Your story on book sales points to a couple of reasons that sales have slowed. However, you missed one. In tough economic times people use the public libraries more and more. Library usage has steadily increased nationwide. People are willing to wait a week or two for the newest bestseller or how-to book so they can save the $25 it would cost for other expenses. In my community the per capita cost to support our library is $30. Public libraries provide great value and more and more people are catching on.

The Edgewood High School Library received a 3M detection security system this month through 3M's "Salute to Schools" program. Edgewood was one of 100 school libraries in the US to receive the system this year. The program, which awards 3M Detection Systems to help middle and high school library media centers with limited resources, is sponsored by 3M in partnership with the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of the American Library Association.

The Lodi Woman’s Club Public Library has expanded its service hours and is opening earlier each day, effective May 1, 2005. The new hours are Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Patron feedback to the change has been positive -- several parents have said they enjoy the opportunity to stop in before morning nap time.

 

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SCLS ‘Electronic Resources’ page has new URL, look

The Electronic Resources web page that is linked from the SCLS homepage (www.scls.info/resources/) has been updated to give users a more efficient interface. It features a quick list of resources by name, and links to more information about each resource.

This new page will soon replace www.scls.lib.wi.us/cgi-bin/pbauth.cgi, so libraries are encouraged to change bookmarks and begin directing patrons to the new URL. If you have questions about the new page, contact Stef Morrill at (608) 245-5799 or by email.

SCLS staff members will make the necessary changes to those library web pages that we manage, but libraries that manage their own sites should change their links now.

 

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Libraries will circulate journals for 60 Books project

South Central Library System member library patrons will have the opportunity this fall to participate in a year-long book arts, writing, and journaling project called “60 Books.”

Created for the Wisconsin Book Festival by the Bone Folders Guild (a book arts group based in Madison), the project will feature 60 blank books, one of which will be distributed to each SCLS member library before the 2005 Wisconsin Book Festival, Oct. 14-16, 2005. For the next 10 months, until Aug. 15, 2006, these books will be available for checkout by library patrons. The Public Library Advisory Committee (PLAC) of the SCLS Board has approved this project for SCLS member library participation.

Patrons will be encouraged to write in these books, and to draw, paint, collage, etc. -- in short, to use the book as a journal. Subsequent patrons will add their own stories, drawings, and so forth, creating a communitywide collaborative work of art.

At the close of the circulation period, the 60 books will be removed from the libraries’ collections and brought together for a traveling exhibit, which will debut as part of the Fifth Annual Wisconsin Book Festival, Oct. 18-22, 2006. After its Madison display period, the exhibit will be available for rotating display in any or all of the participating libraries.

Since SCLS libraries will circulate and house these books, the content must remain compliant with existing library guidelines covering subject matter. The approved plan is for each library to regularly inspect its book to ensure that it remains in compliance with existing library policy on content. In the event a patron puts disallowed content into a book, that book should returned to Mary Knapp at Madison Public Library Library so the content can be excised from the book by the Bone Folders Guild. At the end of the 10-month circulation period the excised items may be displayed with the final exhibit at the Bone Folders’ discretion, but will be presented in such a way that the component can be removed when the exhibit is displayed at a library.

For more information about the project, contact Mary Knapp, Madison Public Library, at (608) 266-6359 (mknapp@scls.lib.wi.us) or Alison Jones Chaim, director of the Wisconsin Book Festival, at (608) 265-5595 (alison@wisconsinbookfestival.org). More information about the Wisconsin Book Festival is available at www.wisconsinbookfestival.org, and you can read more about the Bone Folders Guild at www.valleyridgeartstudio.com/bone_folders/.

 

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LSTA library card sign-up grant information session scheduled June 7

For those libraries interested in applying for LSTA funds for library card sign-up activities, a WisLine Teleconference will be held June 7 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

The South Central Library System is not applying funds through this grant category, so interested libraries would have to apply on their own. Those wishing to attend the session should contact Peg Branson by June 1 at (608) 266-2413 (peg.branson@dpi.state.wi.us) to register for the session. Registration is required so materials can be made available before the session.

The grants may be used to promote public library card sign-up and library use to any of the three groups below:

• These targeted types of families;
  • families with teen parents
  • families who use English as a second language
  • families with a parent living in a detention facility, jail, or prison and
  • families living in poverty
• People living in areas with one or more Schools in Need of Improvement (see www2.dpi.state.wi.us/sifi/); and/or
• People living in areas where less than half the population of the municipality, county or multiple organizations that established the library are registered public library users.

Grants are limited to maximum LSTA funding of $10,000, which may be used for any activities designed to encourage library card sign-up and library use among the three population groups listed above. Applicants are encouraged to involve local schools, preschools, and social service agencies in planning and implementation of projects. In addition to activities to encourage library card sign-up, projects must include efforts to encourage new library card holders to use a library.

For more information about LSTA grants, visit www.dpi.state.wi.us/dpi/dlcl/pld/lsta.html.

 

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‘First Thursday’ is 5-7 p.m. at UW-Madison Terrace

“First Thursday” is an informal social gathering of staff members from all types of libraries (school, special, academic, public, state agencies, whatever) within the geographic boundaries of the South Central Library System. The group meets the first Thursday of every month from 5-7 p.m., and during the summer you’ll find them on the terrace of the UW-Madison Memorial Union. During the remainder of the year they meet at the City Bar, 636 State Street.

For more information, visit www.scls.info/malc/events.html. To receive a special reminder, join the MALC email list at http://lists.scls.lib.wi.us/mailman/listinfo/malc or contact Nancy McClements (email Nancy or call 608-262-8271).

 

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Cottage Grove seeks interim library director

The Village of Cottage Grove (population 4,559) is seeking qualified applicants for a newly-created part-time interim position. This person will have the unusual opportunity to help direct the development of a first-time library in Cottage Grove, scheduled to open in early 2008. This position is for the approximate period of July 1, 2005, through Jan. 1, 2007. Approximate hours per week will be 15, with some evening hours.

Successful candidates must have three to five years experience in a municipal setting as a library director. Someone with an MLS from an ALA-accredited school is preferred. Candidates with strong communication and management skills, ability to work well with volunteers, and previous experience in a library-building program will be given preference.

The Interim Library Director will be eligible to apply for the permanent Library Director (Grade II) position approximately January 2007.

Send resume and three professional references by June 15, 2005, to The Cottage Grove Community Library Board, P.O. Box 294, Cottage Grove, WI 53527. Call Kim Manley at (608) 839-4704 for a job description.

 

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New legal directory available

A directory profiling Wisconsin Law Libraries open to the public is now available on the Dane County Legal Resource Center's home page at http://wsll.state.wi.us/branch/dclrc/pub/wilawlib.pdf.

The focus of the Dane County Legal Resource Center is to provide legal information services to both the local legal community and the general public.

 

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Continuing Education -- www.scls.info/ce/

Upcoming CEs

June 6 -- AncestryLibrary & HeritageQuest (Hands-on Workshop) with Jean Anderson, Sun Prairie Public Library, 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m., SCLS Training Room E.

June 16 -- FISH!: Catch the Energy. Release the Potential (video presentation) with Christine Ray, Manager, Learning & Development, Highsmith Inc., 9:30-11:30 a.m., SCLS Administration.

August 25 -- Reader's Advisory on the Latest Titles and Hot Authors, with Jane Jorgenson, Reference Librarian, Madison Public Library-Ashman Branch. Site and time (1.5 or 2 hours) to be announced.

September (date TBA) -- Reference USA Business, with Tana Elias, Madison Public Library, 9-11:00 a.m., SCLS Training Room E.

September 9 -- Lapsit Programs for Babies and Walkers, with Jane Marino, director of the Bronxville (NY) Public Library and author of "Babies in the Library" and other books for the very young child, 9 a.m.-noon, with broadcast sites at SCLS Administration and Portage County Public Library, Stevens Point.

September 22 -- Bridging the Generation Gap (compressed Video Broadcast), with Deborah Spring Laurel, Laurel & Associates Ltd., Madison (WI), 9 a.m.-noon, with broadcast sites at SCLS Administration and Portage County Public Library, Stevens Point.

September 26 -- Ancestry Library & HeritageQuest, with Jean Anderson, Sun Prairie Public Library, 9-11:30 a.m., SCLS Training Room E.

October 14 -- Literature Resource Center (LRC), with Dawn Foster, Portage Public Library, 9-11:30 a.m., SCLS Training Room E.

October 20 -- The Boomers are Coming! What Do They Want? (compressed video broadcast), with Allan Kleiman, Chair, RUSA/RSS Library Service to an Aging Population Committee (ALA) and Head of Reference, Westfield Memorial Library, (NJ), 9-11:30 a.m., SCLS Administration & Portage County Public Library, Stevens Point.

November 3 -- What Do I Read Next? with Liz Amundson, Madison Public Library, 9-11 a.m., SCLS Training Room E.

 

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