Vol. 6, No. 5 -- February 29, 2008
Index
- Annual SCLS Award nomination forms available online
- Tickets still available for April 17 Arbuthnot lecture
- Gale Virtual Reference Library pilot project begins
- Survey to determine roster of system-wide databases
- ‘Speak Up for Your Library’ cards available; online registration encouraged
- Member/Staff News
- Stoughton Public Library seeks new director
- Babbel is free foreign language tutorial site
- iTunes offers free language podcasts
- Tax question you’ll probably be asked this year
- WAPL conference scheduled April 30-May 2
- Continuing Education Calendar
Annual SCLS Award nomination forms available online
We are in the process of planning System Celebration 2008, and while we haven’t finalized a date or location, it is time to begin submitting nominations for our annual awards.
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, and our awards are an important component of that recognition.
All award nominations -- which may be made by library staff, trustees, Friends, citizens, etc. -- can be submitted at www.scls.info/about/systemceleb/. The deadline for nominations is April 30, 2008, and all nominations must be made using the online forms.
Tickets still available for April 17 Arbuthnot lecture
Each year, an individual of distinction in the field of children’s literature is chosen to write and deliver a lecture that will make a significant contribution to the world of children’s literature. Known as the May Hill Arbuthnot Lecture, the 2008 event will feature David Macaulay, and will be hosted by the South Central Library System (SCLS) in Madison. Tickets are available at www.scls.info/arbuthnot08/.
Best known for his books like “Cathedral,” “Castle,” and “The Way Things Work,” Macaulay is an author and artist who continually strips away the mystique surrounding the architectural structures that have long fascinated modern viewers. His books have sold more than 2 million copies in the United States alone, and his work has been translated into a dozen languages. Five of his titles -- “Cathedral,” “Castle,” “City,” “Pyramid,” and “Mill” -- have been made into popular PBS television programs.
Macaulay won the Caldecott Medal in 1991 for “Black and White” (Houghton), and received Caldecott Honors in 1978 for “Castle” (Houghton) and 1974 for “Cathedral: The Story of Its Construction” (Houghton).
The lecture will be held April 17, 2008, at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison. The annual event draws attendees from across the country, and is one of the premiere events in children’s literature. Macaulay has not yet announced the title or topic of his presentation.
SCLS has proposed programming that will not only celebrate children’s literature, but also Macaulay’s particular position as laureate of architecture and building. The combination of an accessible venue with plans for web-casting will allow for a maximum number of participants. SCLS also will host an all-day workshop on April 16 that will focus on ways mathematics, science, architecture, construction, graphic design, and other elements can be used to enrich public library programs for children, teens and families, and to support math and science literacy for young children.
For more information, or to reserve tickets, visit www.scls.info/arbuthnot08/.
Gale Virtual Reference Library pilot project begins
Through the end of June, SCLS member libraries and the residents they serve will have access to the Gale Virtual Reference Library (GVRL). GVRL is an online resource that contains the full text of common reference books like American Men and Women of Science, Newsmakers (annual cumulations), College Blue Book, Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia, and American Decades. It also includes many other useful titles such as Encyclopedia of the American Constitution, Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine, and Encyclopedia of Aging.
During the time GVRL will be available to you and your patrons, we encourage you to try it out, and use it as you work with your patrons. We believe you will find that it adds tremendously to your ability to answer their questions.
On March 6, representatives from Gale will provide an overview and demonstration of GVRL. There will be two opportunities to attend -- at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. For more information, and to register, see the SCLS Calendar of Events. Information on joining this online session will be emailed to participants prior to the program.
Because this is a pilot project, it will go away at the end of June, unless there is enough interest, and money, to continue. In April, we'll ask for your input and your level of interest, and by the end of April we will need a commitment from any libraries that are interested in purchasing any of the GVRL content.
You can access GVRL at www.scls.info/resources/name.html.
Survey to determine roster of system-wide databases
As part of a new process for adding shared system-wide databases, SCLS member library directors are being asked to complete a survey that will let them indicate which of the existing shared databases they are willing (or not willing) to help fund.
The mailing, which includes a ballot, will be distributed to libraries through Delivery. Completed ballots should be returned to Cheryl Becker by March 31. To help you make decisions, the ballot will include the "non-discounted" cost of each database for your library.
If you have questions, please contact Cheryl Becker.
‘Speak Up for Your Library’ cards available; online registration encouraged
Nearly 1,700 patrons have signed up for the South Central Library System’s “Speak Up for Your Library” campaign, demonstrating their willingness to support libraries through action.
With the new year it’s a good time to re-emphasize this program and encourage patrons to speak up, and now it’s easier than ever thanks to our online registration form available at www.scls.info/pr/speak_up/. Libraries are encouraged to put a link to this page on their websites. A small “Speak Up For Your Library” logo also is available for use on web pages.
We ask that you prominently display the posters and cards, and contact us if you need more (we’ll print them at no cost to you). Simply collect the cards at your library and return them to Mark Ibach at SCLS through Delivery, or link to the online registration form at www.scls.info/pr/speak_up/.
If you have questions about this ongoing campaign, or need more printed materials, contact Mark Ibach.
The New Glarus Public Library is among 851 museums, libraries, and archives that have been selected to receive the IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf. The contents of the Bookshelf, which were selected by a blue ribbon panel of conservation experts, include an essential set of books, online resources, and a user’s guide that can profoundly impact the ability of small libraries and museums to care for their collections. The New Glarus Public Library intends to work closely with local organizations such as the Swiss Historical Society, the Swiss Center of North America, and the Chalet of the Golden Fleece in promoting the use of the Bookshelf.
Susan Hedrick is the new director of the Waunakee Public Library, effective March 25, 2008. She has been director of the Verona Public Library since November 2004.
Gail Moynihan is the new youth services librarian at Deerfield, effective Feb. 25, 2008. She has college credits toward an elementary education degree.
The latest edition of Libraries@UW-Madison has been published at http://devweb.library.wisc.edu/newsletter/.
Rose Wallisch Ziech is the new SCLS Web Services Specialist. She is a graduate of the UW-Madison’s School of Library and Information Studies, and since July 2005 she has worked for the UW-Madison Law School to manage and maintain its website. She will begin at SCLS on March 31,2008.
Stoughton Public Library seeks new director
The Stoughton Public Library Board of Trustees seeks candidates for the full-time professional position of library director. Qualified candidates must have an ALA-accredited MLS certification with 3 -5 years of progressively responsible experience in libraries, and demonstrated effectiveness in management and personnel. A complete list of duties and responsibilities can be found at www.stoughtonpubliclibrary.org/director.htm.
To apply, submit a cover letter, resume, and three professional references to: Library Search Committee, attn: Luann Alme, City Clerk/Personnel Director, Stoughton City Hall, 381 E. Main St., Stoughton, WI 53589.
Babbel is free foreign language tutorial site
We've discovered another free web-based foreign language tutorial you might want to try. This one's called Babbel, and it's available at www.babbel.com. It contains French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and the lessons are interactive and the interface is relatively intuitive. Try it out!
Like Mango (see Oct. 19, 2007, issue), we think you'll find it useful for you and your patrons.
Babbel is currently in a Beta format, and does require Flash.
iTunes offers free language podcasts
If you have patrons interested in learning a new language, iTunes has a section of podcasts devoted to language acquisition.
To get there, just head to the iTunes Music Store, then go to Podcast -> Education -> Language Courses. You can get started perfecting your Spanish, French, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or Italian (to name some of the most popular) in no time, and best of all, they're mostly all free.
You also can access the files through OpenCulture’s Foreign Languages Page at www.oculture.com/2006/10/foreign_languag.html. This page provides direct links to iTunes, direct download feeds, and website links.
Tax question you’ll probably be asked this year
In the midst of tax season, it’s a good bet you’ve already been asked tax questions, including those beyond “do you have copies of Form 1040?” If you get questions about the recently-enacted economic stimulus payments, there is good information online to help taxpayers.
Under the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, more than 130 million American households will receive economic stimulus payments beginning in May. The only way to get one is to file a federal tax return for 2007. This filing requirement also applies to some people who do not normally file, including many low-income people and recipients of Social Security, certain benefits received from the Department of Veterans Affairs and certain Railroad Retirement benefits.
For more information on this important topic visit the IRS website.
WAPL conference scheduled April 30-May 2
The Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries (WAPL) Annual Conference is scheduled April 30-May 2, 2008, at the new Holiday Inn and Convention Center in Stevens Point.
Jay Rath, Madison journalist and author of “The W Files,” will speak on Thursday, and Dick Bennett, former UW-GB and Wisconsin men's basketball head coach, will be the speaker at the Friday luncheon.
More information, including a tentative schedule and registration, is available on the conference website at www.wla.lib.wi.us/wapl/conferences/2008/index.htm.
