- SCLS seeking nominations for new governance committees
- Order ‘Libraries for Real Life’ promotional materials
- H1N1 awareness posters, bookmarks available
- SCLS Foundation Board and library members annual meeting scheduled Oct. 27
- Member/Staff News
- New ELMO document camera available for library use
- Share your library's Story by participating in ‘Wisconsin Libraries Say Cheese!’
- 2009 Wisconsin tax form order information coming soon
- WiLS offers special purchase price for Early Literacy Stations
- Continuing Education Calendar
SCLS seeking nominations for new governance committees
The new governance structure for SCLS is almost in place, and now we need representatives for the various committees!
Nominations are now open for the Administrative Council, the Delivery Committee, the ILS Committee, and the Technology Committee. Individuals can be nominated by anyone they would be representing or can be self-nominated. Individuals can also be nominated (and serve) for multiple committees.
Here are some links to helpful background information.
- Charge of the committees -- http://scls.typepad.com/techplan/charges.pdf
- Job description for the representatives -- http://scls.typepad.com/techplan/jd.pdf
- List of each seat on each committee and the libraries/cluster(s) they represent -- http://scls.typepad.com/techplan/seats.pdf
- Map of clusters -- http://scls.typepad.com/techplan/clustermap.pdf
We believe this new governance structure will provide for representation for all libraries and will help SCLS make stronger decisions and move into the future. However, this change can’t happen without library staff willing to serve on the committees. Please consider nominating someone today!
The nomination deadline is Oct. 30. To nominate someone, simply contact Stef Morrill. If you are nominating another person, be sure to get their permission before nominating them.
If you have any questions or concerns abut the governance changes, contact Phyllis Davis or Stef Morrill.
Order ‘Libraries for Real Life’ promotional materials We know that libraries have meaningful impact on the quality of life in our communities, but if we fail to capture these personal stories and share them, that goodwill is virtually wasted. This is the impetus driving the creation of “Library For Real Life,” and the reason we urge every SCLS member library to request promotional materials to spread the word.
“Libraries For Real Life” is the result of work by the SCLS Marketing and PR Advisory Committee. Members are: Vicky Billings, Portage County Public Library; Pam Bosben Rosemary Garfoot Public Library in Cross Plains; Tana Elias, Madison Public Library; Jennifer Endres, Prairie du Sac Public Library; Mary Friesen, Wyocena Public Library; Demita Gerber, Monona Public Library, Mark Ibach, SCLS; and Trish Priewe, Lodi Woman’s Club Public Library. Priewe designed the promotional materials for the project.
The goal of the project is to collect and share the stories of library users in the seven counties served by SCLS (Adams, Columbia, Dane, Green, Portage, Sauk & Wood). The title -- “Libraries For Real Life!” -- reinforces the reality that today’s public libraries are vibrant, dynamic community resources that meet the information, education, and recreational needs of residents of all ages.
Some stories have already been posted to the website in print and video formats. The site also has links to the available promotional materials, including web buttons in various sizes, and an online story submission form. Requests for promotional materials should be sent to Mark Ibach.
An informational packet was sent to all SCLS library directors. More information is available at www.librariesforreallife.org, or you can contact Mark Ibach with your questions.
H1N1 awareness posters, bookmarks available
With concern about the spread of the H1N1 flu virus dominating news, the SCLS Public Library Advisory Committee (PLAC) recently asked that posters and bookmarks be created to remind library users that they should stay home when ill.
Using language from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the materials simply remind adults to “Stay home!” when they are ill. Another poster reminds parents to “Keep’em home!” if their children are ill. One poster features the image of a sick adult, and the other a sick child, and below the direct message is the URL for the CDC’s H1N1 information -- www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu. Bookmarks are available in both designs, and these items can be ordered by contacting Mark Ibach. You also can download posters and bookmarks here.
The language on these materials is intentionally brief and direct because the best way to avoid spreading the H1N1 flu virus is to stay away from other people.
SCLS Foundation Board and library members annual meeting scheduled Oct. 27
All SCLS member libraries are invited to attend a joint meeting of the SCLS Foundation Board and member libraries on Oct. 27, 2009, at 3 p.m. at the SCLS Administration office, 5250 E. Terrace Drive, in Madison.
The program focus is an update on SCLS investments by Ed Kindschi and Dan Spellman from M&I Wealth Management. Following that presentation there will be updates on the:
- new disbursement policy
- one-year “recession holiday” for library members
- Cornerstone Award event (Nov. 11)
Trish Priewe, co-director of Lodi Woman’s Club Public Library, will discuss her library’s use of the Foundation’s 501(c)(3) status to help increase local contributions. General discussion and a question/answer session will follow.
For more information, contact Phyllis Davis.
Member/Staff News
The September 2009 LINK Library Statistics Summary is posted on Automation's website. Both PDF and Excel versions of this report are posted.
Shannon Stiller has accepted the position of director of the Portage Public Library, effective Nov. 9. Shannon has served as Adult Services Librarian at the Ripon Public Library for the past two years. She graduated from UW-Eau Claire and worked in clinical laboratory science, and in 2003 earned her MLS from Syracuse University. In addition to her library work in Ripon, she worked at the State University of New York’s College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
The October issue of WSLL @ Your Service has been published at http://wilawlibrary.gov/newsletter/0910.html.
New ELMO document camera available for library use SCLS has used LSTA funds to purchase a new ELMO document camera that can be used for presentations or demonstrations. The unit, which is a high-tech version of the old overhead projector, connects to an LCD projector to show the image.
You can share printed documents as you could with an overhead projector, but because it uses digital camera technology you don’t have to put the print on transparencies. Instead, you simply connect the ELMO to the project and put the document or photo under the camera.
In fact, you can use the ELMO to show other items as well. For example, let’s say you are hosting a workshop on fly tying and wanted attendees in a large room to see how the instructor tied a certain fly. You could have the instructor tie the fly under the ELMO, and the entire room would see it In full color, with full motion.
You also can use the ELMO to take photos of what the camera sees, and save the photos to a flash memory card (you’ll have to provide the memory card).
To reserve the ELMO document camera, go to the SCLS equipment reservation page at www.scls.info/program/equip/. The LSTA grant funds used to purchase the ELMO were made available through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas.
Share your library's story by participating in ‘Wisconsin Libraries Say Cheese!’ Based on the adage that “a picture is worth a thousand words,” the Campaign for Wisconsin Libraries has created a visual way to remind people of the variety and wealth of resources, services, programs, and activities their library offers; a visual reminder to the world of the business -- and the busy-ness -- of libraries of all types across the state.
“Wisconsin Libraries Say Cheese! A Day in Pictures” is a promotional project by the Campaign for Wisconsin Libraries (CFWL), a program of the Wisconsin Library Association Foundation (WLAF). Using the web resource Flickr, the project will share the digital photos that libraries across Wisconsin take on one day during the week of Nov. 1-8. This Flickr group (to be unveiled to the media on Nov. 18) will enable you to post photos of the diverse groups of people who use your library. By posting snapshots of your library online, the Campaign will be able to share your library’s story with the world.
Go to www.wisconsinlibraries.org/saycheese/ to learn more about this fun new promotion and how your library can participate, or if you are attending next week’s WLA Conference at the Radisson Paper Valley in Appleton, sit in on the Conference program “Wisconsin Libraries Say Cheese! Using Pictures to Tell the Library Story,” (Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 2-3:15 p.m.) for more details about this program and how it can benefit your library.
2009 Wisconsin tax form order information coming soon
The Department of Revenue (DOR) is in the process of implementing new procedures for libraries to use when placing orders for 2009 Wisconsin tax forms. The DOR will soon e-mail instructions to libraries on how to place orders.
Libraries are also encouraged to sign up for the department's Library electronic mailing list to receive important communications specifically relating to libraries.
If you have questions or concerns, contact Jeff Hanson at (608) 266-8474.
WiLS offers special purchase price for Early Literacy Stations
Many WiLS members already know that WiLS offers the Early Literacy Station at a discounted rate on a regular basis. WiLS recently announced that it would like to save its members even more money by offering a special group purchase volume discount. WiLS and AWE have agreed to establish this special offer from Oct. 26 through Nov. 30, 2009.
The AWE Early Literacy Station (ELS) is an ”all-in-one” standalone educational public access workstation specifically designed for children ages 2 through 10. The ELS includes 45 educational titles, covering seven curricular areas, and is top-rated by Children's Technology Review. The Early Literacy Station is designed by AWE to ”Inspire every child to become a life-long learner.” For more details, view the flash presentation at www.awe-net.com/els_how.asp.
Join the 30 plus Wisconsin libraries that have added Early Literacy Stations with resounding approval from patrons. Pricing and order information is available in a pdf document from WiLS. Make sure to stop by the WiLS booth (#67) at WLA and try out a touch screen version of the Early Literacy Station.