Index
- NoveList Plus adds access to non-fiction titles
- Tight budget times heighten need for advocacy
- Member/Staff News
- System Celebration is Sept. 24
- OverDrive Bookmobile draws about 100 at Madison event
- Possible budget cuts could affect Mead Library’s system membership
- Audio music/video product award available for public libraries
- Continuing Education Calendar
NoveList Plus adds access to non-fiction titles
NoveList has long been part of the online resources provided by SCLS and its member libraries, and it is now part of the statewide offering through BadgerLink. Because we were already subscribing to NoveList, we have been able to upgrade to the NoveList Plus product. As you may recall, NoveList Plus includes nonfiction titles.
Links to NoveList on the SCLS pages will now take you to NoveList Plus. When you conduct a search you can choose to search just in fiction or nonfiction titles. You can also limit your results, after you've conducted a search.
To help libraries promote this expanded service, we’ve updated the marketing materials available at www.scls.info/pr/novelist/. The site has links to a poster, bookmark, flier, press release, public service announcements, and an informational sheet for librarians. These are still available free of charge, so just send your print request to Mark Ibach.
If you have technical difficulties with NoveList Plus, please contact Rose Ziech, SCLS Web Services Specialist.
Tight budget times heighten need for advocacy
Wisconsin’s continuing state budget woes, projected county and municipal budget difficulties, and ongoing economic downturn are dominating state and national news, making it all the more important that libraries cultivate a base of library supporters who are willing to “speak up.”
About 1,700 people have done just that, but with more than 800,000 residents living within the counties that comprise the South Central Library System, more outreach work needs to be done. If your library isn’t already distributing the SCLS “Speak Up for Your Library” cards, now is the perfect time to start.
All that’s required of libraries is to prominently display the sign-up cards (available free of charge from Mark Ibach), or place a link on your library website to our online registration at form at www.scls.info/pr/speak_up/. We have a small “Speak Up For Your Library” logo available for this purpose.
If you choose to use the cards, simply collect them at your library and return them to Mark Ibach at SCLS through Delivery. That’s all there is to is. Individual libraries also can use the list to reach out to local residents when the need arises.
To support libraries in their advocacy efforts, SCLS also has created an Online Advocacy Toolkit available at www.scls.info/pr/advocacy/. The site defines advocacy as it relates to libraries and makes a case for why libraries should develop an advocacy plan. There also is information for developing that plan, and links to many other resources that libraries will find helpful.
The Advocacy Toolkit has sections titled “Advocacy Defined,” Developing An Advocacy Plan,” and “Making Your Case.” In the future there will be information under the category “Collecting Library Stories.” There are also links to the “Speak Up for Your Library” Campaign, WLA and ALA resources, as well as other miscellaneous resources from OCLC, WebJunction, and others.
These resources provide background information that will help you begin a formal advocacy program at your library. If you have questions, or would like further assistance, contact Mark Ibach, SCLS Marketing and PR Coordinator, at (608) 246-5612.
The Black Earth, Cross Plains and Mazomanie public libraries are sponsoring a limerick contest as part of the "Be Creative @ Your Library" summer activities. The contest is open to community members in adult (18+) and child (7-17) categories. Each library's Friends group has donated two prizes from their respective villages, so prizes will be awarded to first-, second- and third-place winners in both categories. In order to ensure participation from locals, the contest entries are submitted on paper forms available in all three libraries. The entries will be judged in August by the three library directors, and the winners' limericks will be published in the News Sickle Arrow on Aug. 27, 2009. Based on the entries thus far, creativity does abound in our communities!
The June 2009 Circulation Statistics reports are now available on the Automation website. You can also view reports from previous months.
This is a reminder that you can view the LINK Update blog at http://scls.typepad.com/link/. Recent Topics Include: Problem with Patron IDs; Updated Don't Miss List for Elizabeth Burr/Worzalla Award; and Updated Don't Miss List for RR Donnelley Award. If you don't remember the username and password to access this page, it can be found at http://automation.scls.lib.wi.us/announce.html.
The Oregon Public Library Book Cart Drill Team (participation voluntary) entered the Oregon Summerfest Parade June 28 for the first time in recent years and won a two-foot trophy for "Most Humorous" entry. The trophy is on display at the circulation desk. Staff members plan to enter their Book Cart Drill Team routine into the State Competition at the Wisconsin Library Association’s Annual Conference in November.
System Celebration is Sept. 24
Mark your calendar now for System Celebration 2009, which is scheduled Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009, at Lake Windsor Golf Club in Windsor. It is located near the intersection of I-90/94 and Highway 19, several miles northwest of Madison.
There will be a social hour from 6-7 p.m., featuring entertainment provided by the Sun Prairie Area High School Jazz Ensemble. Dinner is schedule from 7-8 p.m., and the annual awards program will be from 8-8:30 p.m.
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.
Invitations and registration information will be finalized in early August. SCLS pays for the dinner of the library director (or designee) and any elected officials the library brings (unless they choose to pay for their own meal). Other staff members are welcome to attend, and encouraged to register. Only one printed invitation will be sent to each library, but we encourage everyone to use the online registration form.
OverDrive Bookmobile draws about 100 at Madison event
The OverDrive Digital Bookmobile visited Madison on July 2, setting up shop for the day in the parking of Madison Public Library’s Lakeview Branch.
The official count taken by OverDrive staff was 103 visitors, who viewed the instructional videos and interactive computer stations to learn more about downloading and using digital audiobooks.
Wisconsin residents can download audiobooks and movies through the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium’s Digital Download Center.
We will print marketing materials free of charge for member libraries (view at www.scls.info/pr/overdrive/). However, please specify whether you want the materials created by SCLS, or those from WPLC.
Possible budget cuts could affect Mead Library’s system membership
Wisconsin’s biennial budget has dominated the news lately, but attention will now turn to county and municipal budgets. One of the first potential casualties could be Mead Library’s (Sheboygan) membership in the Eastern Shores Library System.
The City of Sheboygan is facing a projected $2.2 million deficit in 2010, and cuts to the library’s budget could cause it to fall below the state-mandated “maintenance of effort,” which requires that libraries be funded at a level at least equal to the average of the three previous years. Failure to meet this funding level would mean the library would forfeit membership in the Eastern Shores Library System.
The Mead Library contains one-third of the system's holdings, and the $200,000 in state aid that Eastern Shores would lose is about 8% of its operating budget.
The complete article is available in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
Audio music/video product award available for public libraries
The Public Library Association (PLA) of the American Library Association recently announced a grant program that provides $2,500 worth of audio music or video products to public libraries. The program is called the Public Library Association Baker & Taylor Entertainment Audio Music/Video Product Award.
The purpose of the award is to promote the development of a circulating audio music/video product collection in the public libraries and increase the exposure of the format within the community. To apply, us the PLA’s Awards Online Application, which will be available Sept. 1.
More information about the grant is available at the PLA website.