Index
- Hintermeister is 2009 Annual Meeting speaker; discussion topics sought
- TechBits blog coming Feb. 2
- Updates needed for SCLS printed directory
- Member/Staff News
- New games purchased for the Wii
- SLP Workshop is Feb. 6
- You can still register for WLA Library Legislative Day
- News stories highlight role of libraries during economic downturn
- 2008 MATS Webbies Award winners announced
- Librarians' Tour to Scotland scheduled June 2009
- New CCBC bibliography focuses on earth/environment
- Continuing Education Calendar
Hintermeister is 2009 Annual Meeting speaker; discussion topics sought
The SCLS Annual Meeting will be held April 17, 2009, at Spring Brook Resort in Wisconsin Dells. The theme for this year's meeting is "Customer Service," and the featured speaker will be Donelle Hintermeister, a professional trainer with experience in manufacturing, health care, schools, retail, service, non-for-profits, and government. She is the owner of Signature Training Solutions.
With degrees in mass communication and health, and practical experience as an employee and director, Donelle has worked with companies to help them succeed in this ever-changing business climate.
The Annual Meeting Committee is currently working on the agenda, and more information will be posted soon at www.scls.info/about/annualmeeting/. But this is where we need your help! We're looking for suggestions and ideas that will be appropriate for discussions and presentations on April 17. Specifically:
- What customer service problems or questions would you like to learn about at the annual meeting?
- What services have you implemented in your library that provide great customer service to your patrons?
Please send your responses to Stef Morrill by Jan. 20. We'll use these responses to finish developing our agenda in February.
We're happy to announce that TechBits, a new technology blog, will be coming to SCLS on Feb. 2, 2009, as a result of the ongoing technology planning process!
One of the things we heard in the survey and focus groups was the need for more communication about technology. We brought this need to our Joint Technology Committee, and the group decided that a blog about technology would be helpful.
This blog will include all sorts of technology information -- everything from tips and tricks to trends to project updates to best practices. We've lined up a great group of SCLS staff to write for the blog, so expect to hear from different people each week. There will even be contests! But more on that later...
And to help you learn more about blogs (before this new one starts), Jean Anderson will be conducting a training session on Jan. 16 about blogs and RSS. For more information, or to register, go to the SCLS Calendar.
I look forward to this new opportunity to share information!
--Stef Morrill, Associate Director
Updates needed for SCLS printed directory
Today was the deadline for making updates to your library’s information on the SCLS website, or for confirming that your information is correct. Because not all libraries have submitted the “form for updating the directory” at www.scls.info/pro/directory.html, we’re extending the deadline until next Wednesday, Jan. 14, at 5 p.m. After that we’ll use the information we have available.
Please review your library's information at www.scls.info/pro/directory.html (password required) and make the necessary changes by completing the online form available at the top of that page. Even if your library's information is correct, please submit the form with your library's name and "no changes" in the address line. This way we know that each library's information has been reviewed. If you’ve already submitted the form or contacted us, there is no need to do it again (your online information may not have been updated yet).
Please do not reply by email.
Vicki Cothroll, who recently retired as director of the Oregon Public Library, began her tenure there in December 1995, just in time for the transition to the newly completed building across the parking lot. She successfully navigated through those initial months, which she now calls "a blur!" Highlights of her leadership include: doubling FTE's, which included full-time Reference and Circulation Supervisor positions, increasing weekend hours, writing the first strategic plan, and modifying the floor plan to allow for more gathering places for all age groups. After a vacation in the southeast, she will join the Master Gardener Volunteer Training Program with recent retiree Pat Chevis.
The December 2008 LINK Library Statistics Summary is posted on the Automation website. The page includes an Excel version of the report.
All the electronic LINK reports for 2008 have been posted, including the following.
- Circ by PSTAT;
- Count of LINK patrons by PSTAT;
- Count of LINK patrons by PSTAT by library;
- LINK Library Statistics Summary 2008; and
- the new Circulation Statistics reports for Nov, Dec and 2008 annual
Susan B. Santner started her duties as the new Oregon Public Library Director on Jan. 5, bringing with her a variety of library work experiences. Most recently she was employed as Outreach Program Manager of Continuing Education Services for the School of Library and Information Studies at UW-Madison where she developed and taught online classes, organized conferences and wrote and directed educational DVD’s. Prior to that she was Head of Youth Services for the Sun Prairie Public Library where she developed many outreach programs for children and families while managing staff and an extensive youth collection. She also has worked for the Verona Area School District, the Monroe Public Library and the Janesville Public Library (now known as the Hedberg Public Library.) “I am excited to have the opportunity of working with the dynamic management team and staff as they continue to grow the library collection and offer excellent customer service to the Village of Oregon and the surrounding community,” Santner said.
Verona Public Library has received a $20,000 grant from Epic Systems to develop a Community Literacy Project. Adult Literacy Materials will be purchased, as well as Adult Spanish Language Materials. The grant also will allow the library to purchase two AWE literacy gaming computers for the Youth Department.
The January 2009 issue of WSLL @ Your Service has been published at http://wsll.state.wi.us/newsletter/0901.html.
New games purchased for the Wii
In the technology planning survey, one topic that came up in the "new technologies SCLS should help with" was games and gaming.
Some of you may not know that we do have a Wii and two PlayStation 2 consoles available for libraries to borrow for programming. The Wii has a variety of games with it. One PS2 has Dance Dance Revolution, and the other has Guitar Hero. Check out the Games Packages page for more information on the packages and how to reserve them.
For those of you who are veterans at borrowing the gaming packages, you might be interested to know that we now have four new games for the Wii:
- Big Brain Academy
- Big League Sports
- MarioParty 8
- Ultimate Band
If you have suggestions of other games, please let Jean Anderson know. We can't promise we'll buy everything, but we'll consider it. Unfortunately, not all games will work in a shared environment like ours. For example, we know that libraries are interested in "Rock Band," but we have concerns about the cost of purchasing and maintaining all of the various instruments, packaging and delivering all of the components, and setting up equipment at the library. Even though we can’t support that particular game, please pass along other suggestions to Jean.
And don’t forget to regularly check out the Technology Planning Blog for more updates.
It might only be January, but it’s never too early to begin planning for the Summer Library Program. Get a jump on this year’s program by attending a Feb. 6 continuing education workshop presented by Karen Wendt and Geri Cupery.
Karen and Geri will present programming ideas for preschool, school-age, and young teens during the “Much Ado” workshop that will include how to be creative for family nights at your library, reader’s theater, poetry reading and writing, and how to make your own journal. They will present art and craft ideas such as papermaking and face painting workshops for tweens and teens, and nature and recycled art projects. They will share outlines for being creative at EC storytimes (What is EC? You’ll find out.) They will offer tips on how to use teens as volunteers for events and for summer reading registration and rewards. Finally, Geri and Karen will highlight a few ideas in the 2009 SLP Manual that they find noteworthy. Join us! It will be crazy creative chaos!
The workshop will be held from 9:30 a.m. until noon at SCLS Administration, 5250 E. Terrace Drive, Madison, and in Stevens Point. Registration ends Feb. 1, 2009, at 12 a.m.
Anyone attending should bring a five-quart ice cream bucket with lid and three or four sheets of color comics from a Sunday paper.
For more information, or to register, visit the SCLS Calendar. If you have questions, contact Jean Anderson.
You can still register for WLA Library Legislative Day
It’s not too late to register for Library Legislative Day, sponsored by the Wisconsin Library Association (WLA) and the Wisconsin Educational Media & Technology Association (WEMTA). This year’s event will be held Tuesday, Feb. 3, beginning at 7:45 a.m. Be sure to pass the word, and let people know that they don’t need to be a WLA member to attend.
This is a great opportunity to learn a little more about legislative issues impacting libraries, to meet with state legislators and their staffs, and to let them know how much you value the services and resources libraries provide.
More information about the day is available on the WLA website. The website includes online registration (or a downloadable registration form), a link for Virtual Library Legislative Day participation, background information on legislative issues, and information about the Inn on the Park.
News stories highlight role of libraries during economic downturn
Libraries historically have seen increased usage in difficult economic times, and today’s economic downturn is no exception. Below is a sampling of newspaper articles and television news stories highlighting the recent surge in library usage.
Recent Wisconsin News
- As the economy goes down, traffic at the library goes up (Wisconsin State Journal)
- As economy dips, Fox Valley libraries have ‘banner year’ (Fond du Lac Reporter)
- Libraries an information refuge in tough times (Wausau Daily Herald)
- Library uses rises as economy slows (Eau Claire Leader-Telegram)
- Library use up with economy drop (Racine Journal Times)
- Wisconsinites Turn to Libraries in Poor Economy (WMTV Channel 15, Madison)
Recent National News
- Libraries offer free relief from tough times (NBC Nightly News)
- CBS News Notebook: Libraries (CBS News)
- Visit the Library this Winter (Planet Green)
2008 MATS Webbies Award winners announced
The Media and Technology Section (MATS) of WLA is pleased to announce the winners of the 2008 Webbies Awards for excellence in Wisconsin website design.
And the winners are:
- Best Innovative Use of Technology in Providing Library Services: LD Fargo Library YouTube Channel, site designer Gerard Saylor
- Best Reference Site: Project Play, site designers Beth Carpenter, Joy Schwarz & Stef Morrill
- Best Site for Kids: Monona Public Library, site designer Erick Plumb
- Coolest Design: Beloit Public Library, site designer John Burns
- Most Accessible Site: Wisconsin's Water Library, site designer: UW-Madison Aquatic Science Center
- Best of the Best: LD Fargo Library YouTube Channel, site designer Gerard Saylor
The winners are also listed at www.wla.lib.wi.us/mats/webbies/.
Librarians' Tour to Scotland scheduled June 2009
The UW-Madison School of Library & Information Studies will again offer its popular tour to Scotland, June 12-23, 2009. The small group will be based at an historic manor house near Edinburgh for the first four nights, with days spent exploring the city and surrounding areas. The trip continues in the highlands and on the Isle of Skye, and concludes in Glasgow.
The program will include visits to several important libraries and many scenic and historic sites, plus free time to explore. The cost will be approximately $2,389 (plus airfare), which includes accommodations, all breakfasts and nine dinners, group excursions, admissions and tickets to events, ground transportation, instructional fees and gratuities.
For detailed information and itinerary, visit http://sites.google.com/site/librariansscotlandtour/, or contact tour leader Jane Pearlmutter at (608) 262-6398.
New CCBC bibliography focuses on earth/environment
A new bibliography from the Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) highlights books for children and teens about the environment. Eco-Reading: Selected Books for Children and Teens about Our Earth and the Environment is available on the CCBC website.