Index
- Chase, Sharpee to be honored at 2016 Cornerstone Award Reception on Nov. 17
- SCLS subscribes to ‘Short Takes for Trustees’
- Member/Staff News
- Reports for Databases, OverDrive, and Flipster linked on one web page
- 1000 Books Before Kindergarten App now available
- October ‘Talk of the Town’ available
- Marshfield grand opening scheduled Nov. 13
- SCLS seeks Computer Technician I
- Small libraries create smart spaces
- Continuing Education Calendar
Chase, Sharpee to be honored at 2016 Cornerstone Award Reception on Nov. 17
Plans are underway for the 2016 SCLS Foundation Cornerstone Award Reception, to be held Nov. 17 in Cambridge. This year’s Cornerstone Award recipients are Julie Chase, former director of the Dane County Library Service and Middleton Public Library, and Mary Lou Sharpee, a community activist who has been involved in literacy efforts in the Columbus area for more than 40 years. You can make a contribution to honor Mary Lou and/or Julie at www.sclsfoundation.org.
The eighth annual Cornerstone Award reception will be held from 5-7 p.m. at Cambridge Winery (www.cambridgewinery.com), 700 Kenseth Way, in Cambridge, WI. The 2015 event raised nearly $13,500 for the SCLS Foundation.
In addition to the Cornerstone Award presentation, the SCLS Foundation Board will present three awards to member libraries in recognition of the amazing work public libraries do every day while serving their communities. The awards and descriptions are:
- Super Awesome Library Award -- For the library that was overall awesome in 2016. Maybe they handled a tough situation with grace. Or took a new approach. Or found a lot of money under a rock and did something really cool with it. Or got a lot of local support and kudos because they play well with others. Or are just plain super awesome every day.
- Program Wizard Award -- For a super creative, innovative and fun library program created by library staff. In the library or out. For babies or seniors or anyone in between. A one-off or a regular series. If Dumbledore thinks it’s worthy of Wizard status, nominate it!
- Giddy Up Partner Award -- For those strong community partnerships that add value to the library and the community as a whole. It takes two, baby! Or three... or four. Nominate the library and its partner(s) and describe the amazing stuff they’re doing together.
SCLS subscribes to ‘Short Takes for Trustees’
In an effort to provide training support for member library trustees, the South Central Library System (SCLS) has subscribed to a new online video resource called “Short Takes for Trustees.”
This resource is produced by United for Libraries, which is the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations of the American Library Association.
“Short Takes for Trustees” is a series of 10 short videos (8-10 minutes each) that can be shown during trustee meetings to stimulate discussion about the important role that trustees play in the governance of their libraries.
Utilizing an interview format, United for Libraries Executive Director Sally Gardner Reed covers topics in the series such as what it means to be a trustee, as well as how to set policy, how to evaluate the library director and board self-evaluation, and the ethical and parliamentary standards for boards. Videos can be shown during meetings, or individual trustees can log in on their own and watch the videos. Users will enter a name, email address, library name, and state before viewing the videos.
Library directors already have the required login information, so trustees interested in watching videos on their own should contact their director.
Topics for videos are: What it Means to be a Trustee, Board Meetings, Board Ethics, Library Advocacy, Library Policies, Strategic Planning, Working with Friends, Evaluating the Library Director, Board Self Evaluation, and Succession Planning and New Board Orientation.
This resource is being provided through Continuing Education funds from the South Central Library System. We have purchased a one-year subscription that can be used by trustees at all SCLS member libraries, as well as by members of the SCLS Board of Trustees.
More information about this and other SCLS continuing education opportunities is available from Jean Anderson, SCLS Continuing Education Consultant.
Erick Plumb (right) has been named director of the Waunakee Public Library, and he will begin his appointment on Nov. 7, 2016. He has been the Library Director of the Monona Public Library since 2010, and previously served as Assistant Director and Public Services Librarian at Monona from 2006-10. He began his library career as Adult Services Librarian at the Staunton (VA) Public Library. Erick holds a Masters of Library Science from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN.
Reports for Databases, OverDrive, and Flipster linked on one web page
Thanks to everyone who replied to a recent survey about how database statistics were being used, we've consolidated the web pages where we provide usage reports for databases, OverDrive, and Flipster. Overwhelmingly, your feedback told us that reports showing each library's usage of reference databases, OverDrive, and Flipster are critical to your budgeting and planning needs.
To make these reports easier to find, they are now all listed on the same page: Online Resources Usage Statistics by SCLS Library, with links to the per-library reports for all databases that SCLS generates reports for, plus OverDrive and Flipster. (The name is a work in progress!)
We've pruned some reports which totaled usage for the entire system. In some cases this data is included in the Online Resources Usage Statistics by SCLS Library reports. If you find we've removed a report that is important to you, or you can't find what you need, or you have a spiffy new name for this collection of reports, please let us know by contacting the Help Desk.
1000 Books Before Kindergarten App now available
The 1000 Books Before Kindergarten App is now available for public download. The App was developed by the Bridges Library System and the App Brewery at UWM, and was recently updated to include SCLS member libraries and others.
To help library staff publicize and use the app with library patrons, SCLS staff have created a one-stop web page that provides direct links to the app, information for library staff, information for patrons, and publicity and graphic materials.
For more information about early literacy programs, please contact Shawn Brommer.
October ‘Talk of the Town’ available
The October edition of “Talk of the Town” is now available. It features Conor Moran, Madison Public Library, who is talking about the Wisconsin Book festival.
The November edition of “Talk of the Town” will feature Karen Wendt, Monona Public Library, who will talk about storytelling in the Family.
Marshfield grand opening scheduled Nov. 13
The grand opening celebration of the new Everett Roehl Marshfield Public Library will begin at noon on Sunday, Nov. 13, with speeches by local dignitaries and involved citizens. After the ceremony, everyone is invited to celebrate in the new library as they combine the grand opening with its annual “Great Things Are Happening Here!” event. Performers, refreshments, tours and visits with other community movers and shakers will round out this day and begin a week of celebration.
For the “Great Things Are Happening Here!” event, the library invites representatives of human service agencies, service organizations and special interest groups to display information about their efforts to improve the Marshfield community. Community members are asked to visit the Library during the event to thank these local heroes for the many things they are doing to enhance the community.
SCLS seeks Computer Technician I
The South Central Library System is currently accepting applications for the Computer Technician I position. The Computer Technician I provides technical support for SCLS and member library staff at 57 sites. The Computer Technician I installs and maintains PCs, peripheral, and network hardware; provides Help Desk back up and maintains accurate records of system equipment and support operations.
This is an exciting opportunity to provide libraries in a 7-county area with the latest in PC technology!
The job posting, position description and application form can be found at www.scls.info/hr/
Applications are due Oct. 21, 2016.
Small libraries create smart spaces
Libraries of all sizes do incredible work in their communities, but WebJunction has a special message just for small libraries (those serving communities with 25,000 or fewer people).
Are you always thinking about new ways to engage your community with your library's services? Are you a big-picture thinker who can also manage minute details and get people excited about long-term projects? Are you looking for an opportunity to reinvigorate your library space to support active learning in your community?
If this describes you, then check out this opportunity from WebJunction and its partners at the Association for Rural and Small Libraries to submit an application to the Small Libraries Create Smart Spaces project.
Fifteen small public libraries will be selected to receive instructional and material support to engage their communities in a space transformation process that supports active learning at the library. In addition to fostering local change and impact, these libraries and their experiences will influence knowledge and resources that will be shared with the public library field at large, demonstrating the amazing leadership that exists within small libraries and their communities.
Applications are being accepted through 5 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on Friday, October 21, 2016. Read the participant overview, and if it feels like a good fit, head on over to the application itself.