Index
- Member/Staff news
- Begin planning 2011 SLP performers
- WPLC needs your input through OverDrive survey
- SCLS database page changed to reflect 2011 subscriptions
- YouTube video demonstrates transfer of ebooks to an ereader
- TechSoup sponsors digital storytelling event
- WebJunction’s Crossroads newsletter is good advocacy tool
- Continuing Education Calendar
Register now for Library Legislative Day
Political leadership in the Wisconsin Capitol has changed, making your attendance at Library Legislative Day more important than ever! Registration is now open to attend the Feb. 22, 2011, event at the Concourse Hotel, One West Dayton Street, Madison. (Note the new location.) Information is also available online to help you plan for your legislative visits (packets will be provided that day).
To ensure that our messages about the importance of libraries are heard above all other competing messages, it’s vital that ALL libraries be represented this year. Ideally, each library will bring at least one staff member, one board member, one patron, and one elected official. Library staff can use CE grant funds to offset travel costs and the $15 registration fee (cannot be used for non-staff attendees).
Make it your mission to inform your legislators about current library issues and how valuable your library is to your community. Make sure that the information you provide about your library also intersects with your legislators' main interests. For instance, in 2010 WLA developed the "Common Agenda" approach to library issues, focusing on the role libraries play in jobs and economic development, information access and technology, and education. Take a look at WLA materials for ideas on tailoring your message.
Contact information (http://capwiz.com/ala/wi/home/) for legislators is provided for your convenience. If you or other library supporters in your community are unable to attend on Feb. 22, participate through the Virtual Library Legislative Day.
Member/Staff news
With a grant of $7,070 from the Wisconsin Humanities Council, the Friends of the Brodhead Public Library will develop a program called “Food for Thought: Key Ingredients in Brodhead.” It will feature “Key Ingredients,” a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian exhibition that is being coordinated by the Wisconsin Humanities Council (WHC). The exhibit teaches about the rich history of food across the United States, and highlights the cultural and historical influences that shape Americans’ food choices, the technological changes on farms and in kitchens, and the many ways families celebrate. Locally produced displays and activities will introduce visitors to the breadth and depth of Wisconsin’s food story, as seen through the eyes of each community. Brodhead’s exhibit will be on display May 6 through June 17.
Two promotions at E.D. Locke Public Library in McFarland were effective Jan. 1, 2011: Linda Stuckey has been promoted to Assistant Director and Gerri Hanson has been promoted to Library Assistant II.
Fitchburg Public Library is scheduled to open in July 2011. While work on the building is visible to all that drive down Lacy Road, even more work is going on behind the scenes. In preparation for the grand opening, books are being selected, furnishings are being ordered, and plans are being made to recruit and hire the staff. Recruitment efforts will begin in January, with the Access Services Manager position posted first. That position will quickly be followed by the Adult Services and Youth Services Managers, as well as several support positions. The goal is to have these staff on board by the time the building is ready for occupancy in April. The remaining positions will be hired with starting dates anticipated to be during the first few weeks of June. Anyone interested in employment opportunities with the City of Fitchburg is encouraged to sign up for an e-mail list at www.city.fitchburg.wi.us/mail_list/index.php.
The December 2010 LINK Library Statistics Summary is posted on Automation's website. Both PDF and Excel versions of this report are posted.
New Glarus Public Library recently received a grant from the New Glarus Community Foundation to purchase an AWE Early Literacy Station to replace its aging children's games computer. The Early Literacy Station is a touch-screen model and is bi-lingual (English / Spanish). They hope to have it installed and ready for young patron use by early February. NGL purchased the unit using the cooperative purchase discount through WiLS.
Stoughton Public Library is seeking an experienced library assistant to work at a busy Service Desks (Adult, Children’s, Circulation) on a substitute on-call basis. Current electronic and print reference resource expertise, Dynix Classic experience, and readers advisory fluency strongly preferred. Must be able to work effectively with all ages. Knowledge of library operations required. Schedule requires the ability to work flexible hours on an on-call basis, including days, evenings and weekends. Shifts will vary with a maximum of 300 hours in 2011. Wage is $15.42 per hour with no benefits. The application form is available at http://tiny.cc/L5l9B. Submit applications by January 24, 2011, for assured consideration. Applications accepted until position filled.
Sun Prairie Public Library recently received an Early Literacy Station for children ages 2-10. The station offers a variety of learning games that optimize educational effectiveness while kids just have fun. Funding was provided by the Friends of the Sun Prairie Library.
The January 2011 issue of WSLL @ Your Service has been published at http://wilawlibrary.gov/newsletter/1101.html.
Begin planning 2011 SLP performers
It's time again to begin planning special performances for this year's summer library program.
In 2011, SCLS will fund up to $400 for summer performances at each member library and branch. To ensure this payment to your library, and to help us create publicity materials, please send photocopies of all signed performer contracts to Heidi Moe at SCA by Monday, March 7.
In an effort to cut back on paper use, we no longer will send paper documents or memos about the performer funds. Instead, we've linked a Performer Contract Template and planning documents to the SCLS Youth Services performer website.
Please refer to these materials when booking performers this year. For more information, contact Shawn Brommer.
WPLC needs your input through OverDrive survey
In preparation for contract negotiations with OverDrive, the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium is looking for feedback from public library systems and public libraries regarding the OverDrive service and a potential scenario for improving the content available through OverDrive.
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey at www.surveymonkey.com/s/wplcoverdrive. Completing the survey should take only 10-15 minutes. The survey will be available online until Jan. 14, 2011.
SCLS database page changed to reflect 2011 subscriptions
The “Online Resources by Name” page (and the tabs that link to system-wide resources and locally-subscribed resources) has now been modified to reflect changes in member libraries' subscriptions for 2011. There are two exceptions, however, because we are waiting for some information from the vendors LexisNexis and Safari in order to include access to those databases. (This affects only 1 or 2 member libraries.)
Libraries have been informed of their 2011 subscription prices, and were invoiced by Wisconsin Library Services (WiLS) in late December, or will be invoiced in January, according to your preferences. If you are uncertain which databases your library is subscribing to in 2011, you will want to speak to your library director, or in some cases the person responsible for database subscriptions at your library. If your library has questions about which databases it is subscribing to in 2011, you may wish to contact Sara Gold (mailto:sgold@wils.wisc.edu) at WiLS. The best way to see which libraries are subscribing to which databases is to consult the “Online Resources by Name” page.
As you know, authentication for remote access to the databases is based on a user’s home library. For LINKcat libraries, this information comes from the “home agency” field in the patron’s LINKcat record.
For libraries that currently subscribe to Literature Resource Center (LRC), that subscription ends August 15, 2011. Two libraries that currently subscribe to LRC are not renewing at that time, so on August 16 we will change the authentication and the "Online Resources by Name" page to reflect this change.
For more information about how database access is determined, please take a look at these resources:
- How access to the Online Resources is determined;
- Info about "Home Library" and access to online resources; and
- "Tech Bits" post about how access to Online Resources is determined.
YouTube video demonstrates transfer of ebooks to an ereader
More and more people are turning to handheld portable devices to augment their recreational and professional reading, but it’s not always immediately clear how to get that electronic file onto your device of choice.
To help answer some of these questions for devices like a Nook or Kobo (and others), invest four minutes and watch a new video tutorial on the SCLS YouTube Channel.
If you’re not sure what devices are compatible with OverDrive, or you just want a quick reference, visit the WPLC Digital Download Center and click on “Supported Portable Devices) near the bottom of the page in the left-hand column.
TechSoup sponsors digital storytelling event
Storytelling has gone digital, and this month you can join TechSoup's Digital Storytelling Event to learn more. You can participate in webinars, online events, and discussions with digital media experts, and learn how to tell your organization's story through video and photos.
Then, create a digital story showcasing your organization's work and submit it for a chance to win prizes, including Adobe Premiere Pro, Flip Video Slide HD, and Optoma Pico Projector. No production or storytelling experience is necessary -- they’ll teach you how.
Join the program on Jan. 13 to learn what makes a good story and how to frame your message to produce a professional-quality digital story of your organization's work. Leaders in the field will share their knowledge and answer questions. Then, on Jan. 20, learn the essentials of shooting and producing, and how to broadcast your story. Learn about devices to capture video, images, and audio, plus basic editing tools and media channels.
Learn more and register at the TechSoup website.
WebJunction’s Crossroads newsletter is good advocacy tool
Library advocacy is on everyone’s mind these days, and finding good tools to help hone your message is critical. One such tool is WebJunction’s Crossroads newsletter, which this month has several good articles with a focus on advocacy. Read more online.