Online Update

Index - Deadline extended for member library input on next System Director - 2006 Continuing Education Calendar - SCLS holiday schedules - Member/Staff News - SCLS posts new equipment reservation page - Marketing & Public Relations Advisory Committee members needed - CSP seeks youth services coordinator - Daily MOTOR email updates available - SLIS offers online course in creating programming for adults - ‘Between Fences’ Smithsonian exhibition coming to Wisconsin in 2007 - Entries sought for 12th-annual Reading Rainbow Young Writers & Illustrators Contest - Online tutorials explore Experience Library website - EBSCO launches new Customer Success Center Continuing Education -- - CEs - Calendar

Did you know… …that public library use has grown at a much faster rate than Wisconsin’s population. While the state has gained only 3.2 percent in population since 2000, library circulation has increased 21.5 percent and the number of Internet-connected public use computer terminals available in libraries has grown by 64 percent. A grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation supported the distribution of 743 personal computers and servers to 235 Wisconsin public libraries and branches in 2003. The grant will continue to provide technology training through 2006. All public libraries now have Internet connections, and almost all of them provide high speed Internet access. Informational databases, such as those provided statewide through BadgerLink, are available to all state residents through their local library as well as in homes, schools, and workplaces. --2004 Wisconsin Public Library Statistics

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Reminder:
SCLS administration will be closed Dec. 26 & Jan. 2, and there will be
no delivery service on Dec. 24, 26, 31, or Jan. 2. SCLS Automation will have only "on call" help Dec. 26.

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Deadline extended for member library input on next System Director

The SCLS Board committee working to hire the next System Director has extended the deadline for member library staff to share the characteristics they would most like to see in the candidates considered. Specifically:

• What qualities, personal and professional, do you consider most important in a System Director?
• What questions would you ask a candidate? (If you have a suggested answer to your question, please share that also.)

The selection committee members are Tom Brown, J. Robert Curtis, Janet Pugh, Bill Zimdars and Kristi Williams, committee chair. SCLS Board President Jack Taft is an ex-officio member of the committee.

You should send any thoughts or comments to Kristi Williams, committee chair (rtwillia@wisc.edu), by next Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005. The committee will keep all responses confidential.

 

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2006 Continuing Education Calendar

From disaster planning to children’s literature to filing the annual report, there’s something for every SCLS member in the 2006 continuing education calendar at www.scls.info/ce/.

Beginning the first week of January, SCLS is offering many opportunities to participate in continuing education activities from the convenience of your own library through WisLine Web. Over the lunch hour on Friday, Jan. 6, Nichole Fromm will de-mystify wikis, blogs, IM and other new online communications. At the end of January, Cheryl Becker will take you through the steps of filing your annual report online. We’ll also be using WisLine Web to deliver the popular CCBC Best New Books series, provide training in OCLC ILL, and answer your questions about OverDrive. (You must register for these WisLine Web sessions).

We have great speakers coming in to provide in-person workshops, too. Miriam Kahn, author of two recent ALA publications on disaster planning and recovery, will be here Feb. 23. A day-long early literacy program will be held April 13, and on May 12 Sabine Lobitz, retired capitol police officer, will present her important program on preventing workplace violence.

Check out the online calendar (www.scls.info/ce/program/2006program.html) for more speakers and programs in 2006. A print calendar highlighting the CE events of the first six months of the year will be distributed to the libraries soon, but libraries should rely on the online calendar for the most up-to-date and accurate listing.

 

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SCLS holiday schedules

On Monday, Dec. 26, SCLS automation will not have any one in the office to provide support, so library staff should contact the Person on Call at (608) 275-6213 for emergencies. Morning work will be completed and the system will be available during regularly scheduled hours.

Staff assigned at your library on Monday will have to know how to log in to Windows and to Dynix. If none of your regularly scheduled staff will be working on Dec. 26, please make sure that those expected to log the workstations on know the procedures, usernames and passwords. Automation staff do not have the Windows passwords for library PCs. This is an important thing to keep in mind when regularly scheduled staff are not on hand. Prepare staff who are covering holidays and weekends with updated information regarding login procedures and passwords. Do not rely solely on function keys.

Automation will provide support staff on Monday, Jan. 2, from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. After 5:00 p.m. support for emergencies will be provided via the pager number above.

Also during the holidays, there will be no Delivery Service on Dec. 24, 26, 31 or Jan. 2. SCLS Administrative offices will be closed Dec. 26 and Jan. 2.

 

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Member/Staff News

Dec. 20 is my last day in the office at South Central, and after Dec. 31 I will be officially retired. For anyone who still wishes to communicate with me, my one and only email address will be phamon@aol.com. Friends, it has been more fun than I can say!

-- All the best, Peter

Madison’s Central Library is expanding evening hours and will now be open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., but the library will open 30 minutes later Monday through Friday to accommodate this change. The exception to this schedule is the Children's Room, which will now be open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. New books, media and other materials will be available via displays located in the second floor Gallery after 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. In addition, specific juvenile titles will be available on request. This earlier closing at Central will enable Youth Services staff to increase evening youth programming at the branches. In addition, the City budget has restored Sunday hours at the Central Library for 2006. The Library will be open Sunday from 1 5 p.m. through the end of April, and will reopen for Sundays at the beginning of October. These new hours begin Jan. 3, 2006.

The Stoughton Public Library has made wireless internet access available on the Mezzanine level of the library as part of its upgrading and refurbishing of this area. Dan Jacobson, SCLS technical support specialist, assisted with the implementation. Thanks to Dan for a great job!

The latest issue of Libraries@UW-Madison is available at www.library.wisc.edu/libraries/News/newsletter/45/index.htm.

 

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SCLS posts new equipment reservation page

South Central Library System has computer and audiovisual equipment that member public libraries can check out for patron or staff training and programs.

Available equipment includes

• mobile computer labs,
• presentation package,
• digital cameras,
• DVD burner,
• PA system and wireless microphone,
• TV/VCR combo, and
• overhead transparency projector.

For more information about the available equipment, or to place a reservation, visit www.scls.info/program/equip/. Equipment will be sent to and from the requesting library through the SCLS Delivery system.

 

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Marketing & Public Relations Advisory Committee members needed

Effectively marketing the programs, services and resources of public libraries is an ongoing challenge, and we're still looking for some people who are willing to lend their expertise and ideas to help all SCLS member libraries be more successful.

Four members of the SCLS Marketing & Public Relations Advisory Committee have served for two years or more and have expressed their desire to let other library staff members take their positions. As a result, we’re looking for volunteers from Adams, Green, Portage and Wood Counties (we have representatives from Dane and Sauk Counties and two volunteers from Columbia County).

The primary function of the Marketing & Public Relations Advisory Committee, which is a subcommittee of the Public Library Advisory Committee, is to market public libraries -- their role, value and importance. The primary goal for 2006 is to make this committee more active. Its membership includes seven individuals that represent a cross-section of SCLS member libraries (size and geographic location), while Madison Public Library has a permanent representative. Every effort is made to ensure that three large libraries (2 south, 1 central) and three small libraries (2 south, 1 central) are represented.

The committee’s charges are to

• market system and member library products and services.
• advise and support system and member library marketing and publicity efforts.
• teach and empower member library staffs and boards to communicate effectively and work positively with decision makers.
• encourage public support of member libraries and SCLS.
• explore any other marketing- and public relations-related matters as the committee deems necessary.

If you’d like to volunteer your time and expertise for four meetings per year, contact Mark Ibach at (608) 246-5612 (or by email).

 

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CSP seeks youth services coordinator

The Rosemary Garfoot Public Library in Cross Plains is accepting applications for a Youth Services Coordinator that will be responsible for planning and implementing all programs and activities for children through teens, providing customer service, creating library newsletters and other general library duties.

At least one year of experience in a youth services position or associated field is required and a bachelor degree is preferred. This is a full-time position with excellent benefits. Starting salary is $11.50 per hour, and hours include one evening per week and Saturdays.

Send resumes to Rosemary Garfoot Public Library, 2107 Julius Street, Cross Plains, WI 53528. The application deadline is Dec. 29, 2005. A complete job description can be obtained via e-mail from pbosben@scls.lib.wi.us.

 

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Daily MOTOR email updates available

Would you like to keep tabs on the books and other materials mentioned on popular TV or radio programs? If your answer is yes, then MOTOR is the resource for you -- "Mentioned on TV or Radio."

One of the easiest ways to get this information to sign up for a daily email that includes items mentioned the day before. If you’d like to a daily email, contact Stef Morrill at (608) 245-5799 (or by email).

Libraries also can search a database of items mentioned in the last 3 months, with options to search by title, name of author/performer, or program. To access the database, go to www.scls.info/pro  (use your library’s three-letter code and last 4 digits of phone number). The username and password for MOTOR is listed below the link.

The Wisconsin Public Library Consortium is paying for the 2006 subscription, so access will continue next year.

 

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SLIS offers online course in creating programming for adults

Most libraries offer some kind of programming for children, but not all make the same commitment to programming for adults. However, most public library programs geared to adults are successful. From book discussions and author visits to current event seminars, computer classes, and gardening programs, adults register for and enthusiastically attend a variety of library events.

To help libraries more effectively plan adult programming, the UW-Madison School of Library and Information Studies is offering an online course from Feb. 1 through March 15, 2006. Each week participants will use the online discussion module to share stories, comments, and critiques on topics such as the philosophy of adult programming, what constitutes a “successful” program, and what are the most effective methods of publicizing an event.

The cost of the program is $139, and the registration deadline is Jan. 24, 2006. Participants will receive 1.8 CEUs upon completion. For more information, or to register, visit www.slis.wisc.edu/continueed/adultprog.html.

 

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‘Between Fences’ Smithsonian exhibition coming to Wisconsin in 2007

In 2007, six small Wisconsin communities will have the opportunity to host “Between Fences,” a traveling exhibition developed by the Smithsonian and brought to Wisconsin by the Wisconsin Humanities Council (WHC). The exhibit is a cultural history of fences and land use, and examines how neighbors and nations divide and protect, offend and defend through the boundaries they build.

WHC will select host communities through a competitive process that is open to libraries, museums, cultural centers, historical societies, and other venues in communities with populations of less than 10,000. Six communities will be selected to host the exhibition for six weeks each from September 2007 through July 2008. Applications will be judged and sites chosen based on geographic distribution, strength of proposed ideas for complementary programs, demonstrated commitment from the community, and physical display space.

For more information, including an application form, visit www.wisconsinhumanities.org/. Applications must be submitted by March 15, 2006.

 

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Entries sought for 12th-annual Reading Rainbow Young Writers & Illustrators Contest

Young authors in kindergarten through third grade are encouraged to enter their originally written and illustrated stories in the 12th-annual Reading Rainbow Young Writers & Illustrators contest sponsored by the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and Wisconsin Public Television (WPT).

Entries will be judged in each grade level and prizes awarded for achievement in writing and illustration. Every child who enters will receive a special certificate signed by Reading Rainbow host LeVar Burton. Contest rules and applications are available online now at http://wpt.org/kids/wipbs/ or by calling (608) 265-5035 (beginning in January). Entries will be accepted beginning Jan. 2, 2006, and all entries must be received by March 24, 2006.

A program guide for librarians is available online at http://wpt.org/kids/wipbs/pdf/librarianguide_05.pdf.

 

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Online tutorials explore Experience Library website

The Cerritos Library recently was featured in an article by California State Librarian Susan Hildreth titled “The Library As Place.” Published in the California State Library Foundation Bulletin #82 (beginning on page 16), the article is available at www.cslfdn.org/pdf/bulletin_82.pdf.

In response to requests for additional information about the planning and implementation of the Cerritos Library, the latest entry at the clioinstitute blog showcases the Experience Library Website, an online tutorial to assist, inspire and support those who wish to emphasize the role of the public library as a "learning organization," either by building a new "Experience Library" or reinventing elements of an existing library.

The site's content is divided into three books.

• How to Build an Experience Library: the eight-step process the Cerritos Library planning team used to make their dream reality
• The Story: Library Director Waynn Pearson’s personal overview
• The clioinstitute: information about events sponsored by this learning arm of the Cerritos Library, starting with the Imagine it, Explore it, Create it Conference

The tutorial is available at http://clioinstitute.info/blog/organizational_change/online_tutorials/.

 

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EBSCO launches new Customer Success Center

EBSCO recently announced the launch of a new resource created for customers and based on customer feedback -- the Customer Success Center at www.epnet.com/thisTopic.php?marketID=20&topicID=204.

This new resource, which is dedicated to customers‚ professional development and success, features more than 100 free tools. The new website includes:

• “It’s a Reading Rave!” designed to encourage reading with students (it includes links to other cool, high-interest reading sites, games, and more);
• a repository of success stories from some of EBSCO’s leading customers, sharing their best practices and learning on such topics as promoting library resources to students, successful grant writing, and utilizing databases in the classroom;
• a list of grant sources with helpful tips on comparing fee-based databases with free resources;
• colorful posters and bookmarks you can print for advertising your library’s resources; and
• hand-outs for students covering key topics such as avoiding plagiarism, and understanding the difference between popular and peer-reviewed magazines.

If you have a question, story, tool, or idea for the Customer Success Center, send your thoughts and feedback to customersuccess@epnet.com.

 

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