Index
- Transform ideas about the library by sharing your stories
- New Glarus seeks new library director
- Member/Staff News
- Wisconsin Author Project Winner
- Zoë Kravitz shares the magic of libraries in new video PSAs
- What will the upcoming midterm elections mean for your library & community?
- ALA accepting nominations for the Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Practitioner Lifetime Achievement Award
- Partners for Middle School STEM: Learning Cohort Application
- Continuing Education Calendar
Transform ideas about the library by sharing your stories
Public libraries are instrumental in transforming their communities each and every day through the services and expertise they offer.
The website Wisconsin Libraries Transform (www.wisconsinlibrariestransform.org) is a great way for South Central Library System (SCLS) member libraries to highlight the changing role of libraries, librarians and library workers. Libraries aren’t only a place of quiet study, but also creative and engaging community centers where people can collaborate using new technologies, learn how to use a 3D printer, listen to an author or other speaker, learn a new craft, or even record their own music.
Wisconsin Libraries Transform is a new initiative based on the Libraries Transform campaign created by the American Library Association. Guided by the principle that today’s libraries are both about what theyhave and what they do for and with people, the Wisconsin Libraries Transform project is a proactive campaign to increase public awareness of the value, impact, and services provided by libraries and library professionals. View stories of how libraries are changing lives locally at www.wisconsinlibrariestransform.org or follow participating libraries on Facebook and Twitter.
Libraries of all types are evolving to meet the needs of the communities they serve. Elected officials, small business owners, students and the public at large depend upon libraries and the resources they offer to address the needs of their communities. By providing internet access for low-income families, job training and resumé writing workshops for the unemployed, meeting spaces for community groups and small businesses, materials for English-language learners, programs for job seekers or a safe haven in times of crisis, libraries and librarians transform their communities.
Libraries also offer something unique to their communities, the expertise of individual librarians. Librarians assist patrons in using increasingly complex technology and sorting through the potentially overwhelming mass of information bombarding today’s digital society. This is especially crucial when access to reliable and trustworthy data is more important than ever.
To help libraries tell their stories and promote the website and stories, there is a toolkit with all kinds of resources.
For more information about the project, and how your library can participate, contact Mark Ibach, SCLS Consulting Services Coordinator.
New Glarus seeks new library director
The New Glarus Public Library seeks an innovative, enthusiastic and service-oriented individual for the position of library director. With a major building project on the horizon, this is a very exciting time for the library and the community.
Located in northeastern Green County -- just 20 miles from Madison -- the Village of New Glarus was originally settled by immigrants from Switzerland. Today, the New Glarus Public Library continues to celebrate this Swiss heritage as it serves a total service population of 6,069, has an annual circulation of over 66,000, and a 2018 library budget of over $250,000.
Duties of the library director include overseeing all aspects of library operations and services, 4.57 FTE employees, budget planning, management and reporting, technology planning and implementation, collection development, grant writing, facilities management, and working with the Village staff and community. The director reports to the library’s seven-member Board of Trustees. See the position description (www.newglaruspubliclibrary.org) for a complete list of responsibilities and duties.
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree, although an ALA-accredited Master of Arts in Library Science or Library and Information Studies (MLS) or equivalent is preferred, at least three to five years professional / managerial experience, and be eligible to receive a Grade 2 Wisconsin Public Librarian certification. The successful candidate will possess a strong public service orientation, commitment to the needs of the community, strong organizational and project management skills, excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills and a strong technology background. Prior experience with building and/or library expansion projects is a plus.
The minimum hiring salary is $40,000 annually, depending upon qualifications and experience. This full-time position includes health/dental insurance, paid vacation, sick time, retirement contribution, and paid holidays.
Send cover letter, resume, and list of three professional references by Nov. 30, 2018 to: [email protected], with the subject line: Library Director Search. Finalists will be subject to a criminal background check. The New Glarus Public Library is an equal opportunity employer.
Tracie Miller (right) is the new director for the Wyocena Public Library, starting today, Nov. 5, 2018. She recently moved back to Wisconsin with her husband after his 25 years of military service. Earning her bachelor’s degree in Business from Ashland University, Tracie spent time working for The American Red Cross in Germany. Upon starting a family, Tracie used her talents to volunteer for several military based organizations, Boy Scouts, and Junior Achievement. Due to her passion for genealogy research (and love of books), Tracie decided to pursue a career change and earned a MLIS from Drexel University. Since then she has been a children’s librarian, U.S Army Deputy Librarian in Germany, and most recently an adult programming librarian. Tracie is excited to be making Wisconsin her permanent home, being closer to family, and starting the next chapter of life, sans the military rigors.
The November issue of WSLL @ Your Service is now online. Your comments are welcome! Please direct them to the editor, Carol Hassler. In this issue: Researching verdicts and settlements -- Trial decisions and settlements can be difficult to find. The sources for verdicts and settlements in this article are available for use in our library; New books -- This month's featured new books are Recusal and Disqualification of Judges: For Cause Motions, Peremptory Challenges and Appeals and Nolo's Essential Guide to Child Custody & Support. Be sure to check out the complete November New Book List for all our new titles; Tech tip -- State and local governments collect and manage so much data (often behind the scenes). One such treasure trove is traffic counts at the street level; Library news -- We have a full list of news to share, including new staff in Milwaukee, classes, holidays, and our open house; November snapshot -- The Palazza di Giustizia houses the Italian Supreme Court of Cassation and the Judicial Public Library.
Wisconsin Author Project Winner
The Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC) recently announced that the winner of the Wisconsin Author Project, made possible by the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), is On the Road to Death's Door by M.J. Williams and the runner-up is Depravity by M.J. Haag! Both titles are available to read without delay in the Indie Wisconsin collection in BiblioBoard Library.
Through the Wisconsin Author Project, Wisconsin libraries are helping local authors get the recognition they deserve for writing great books. Wisconsin residents who are authors of self-published adult or young adult fiction were invited to submit their work for consideration in the contest. The winner receives a $1,000 prize thanks to BiblioLabs and exposure of their writings to readers in Wisconsin and potentially beyond. In this first year of the contest, we received 116 book submissions and the winner and runner-up were selected thanks to Library Journal and to the hard work of the Wisconsin judging panel: Jennie Bahnaman, McMillan Memorial Library; Jennifer Cook, Chippewa Valley Technical College; Candi Fitzsimmons, Darlington Public Library; Melissa Juvinall, UW-Madison iSchool Student; Amy Krahn, St. Francis Public Library; Emily Laws, West Bend Community Memorial Library; and Amy Lutzke, Dwight Foster Public Library (Fort Atkinson).
If you missed the program at the WLA Annual Conference on the Wisconsin Author Project, you can check out the slides here.
Zoë Kravitz shares the magic of libraries in new video PSAs
Actress, singer and model Zoë Kravitz stars in two new video Public Service Announcements (PSAs) for the American Library Association, promoting the magical power of libraries. In the PSAs, Kravitz, who appears in the upcoming film “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” urges the public to visit libraries to discover and experience new worlds through literature and resources such as eBooks, games and 3D printers.
The PSAs are free and are available for download to post on web pages and social media channels. ALA members and library supporters are encouraged to share the PSAs to publicize the critical role libraries and librarians play in transforming lives and communities. Social media graphics, sample social media posts and other materials are also provided to help promote the PSAs.
In addition, Kravitz is featured in a new READ® poster, which can be purchased at the ALA Store. Kravitz was named one of “Variety’s” 10 Actors to Watch and on “Forbes” 30 Under 30 list. She will play Leta Lestrange in “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” which arrives in theaters Nov. 16.
Kravitz’s most recent credits include the groundbreaking HBO miniseries “Big Little Lies,” opposite Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman. Directed by Jean Marc Vallee, the series won eight Emmy Awards and four Golden Globe Awards. She has also appeared in “The Road Within,” with Dev Patel; “Good Kill,” with Ethan Hawke and January Jones; “Rough Night,” alongside Scarlett Johansson and Kate McKinnon; the critically acclaimed film “Dope,” produced by Forest Whitaker and executive produced by Pharrell Williams; and “Gemini,” with Lola Kirke.
The PSAs are made possible by Warner Bros. Pictures, ALA Graphics and Libraries Transform, a national initiative of the ALA, which promotes public awareness of the value, impact and services provided by libraries and library professionals. Library supporters are welcome to join the Libraries Transform campaign to access free resources and tools to promote the value of our nation’s libraries.
The American Library Association is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the ALA has been the trusted voice of libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit www.ala.org.
What will the upcoming midterm elections mean for your library & community?
Join the American Library Association for a free 60-minute webinar on Friday, Nov. 9, at 11:30 a.m. eastern time where they’ll provide an overview of key results from the 2018 elections and explore their implications. ALA’s Washington Office will dig into how the outcomes could affect engagement from library advocates and how ALA’s upcoming advocacy plans will align.
Participants will learn the library-related implications of the 2018 election results; how those results affect library policy agenda, outreach, and advocacy plans for 2019 and beyond; and specific policy and political opportunities for ALA and libraries.
The panelists include:
- Jim Neal, immediate past president of ALA
- Alan Inouye, senior director of public policy and government relations, ALA Washington Office
- Vic Klatt, principal, Penn Hill Group, Washington, D.C.
- Gigi Sohn, distinguished fellow at Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law and Policy and Benton senior fellow and public advocate
Tune in to this free 60-minute webcast at11:30 a.m. (eastern time) on Friday, Nov.9. Don’t miss out!
ALA accepting nominations for the Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Practitioner Lifetime Achievement Award
The American Library Association (ALA) is accepting nominations for the Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Practitioner Lifetime Achievement Award.
The award is named for award-winning children’s author Virginia Hamilton (1936-2002), recipient of the 1983, 1986 and 1996 Coretta Scott King Book Award, 1974 National Book Award and the 1975 John Newbery Medal. The award pays tribute to the quality and magnitude of Hamilton’s exemplary contributions through her literature and advocacy for children and youth, especially in her focus on African-American life, history and consciousness.
In odd-numbered years, practitioners will be recognized, while authors, illustrators or author/illustrators will be honored in even-numbered years. Previous recipients of the Coretta Scott King - Virginia Hamilton Practitioner Lifetime Achievement Award include Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop, Professor Emerita at The Ohio State University, and Deborah D. Taylor, Coordinator of School and Student Services, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore.
Interested parties should note that nominees must have a minimum of 10 years of service using African-American literature to promote reading activities and programs for children and young adults.
Eligible practitioners may include:
- Public, academic or school (public or private) librarians;
- Educators (Pre K-12, public or private);
- College or University faculty;
- Youth literature advocates whose vocations, work, volunteer service or ongoing promotion of books with and/or on behalf of youth is significant and sustained.
The winning recipient will be honored at the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Breakfast during the 2019 ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Washington, D.C. Recipients will be acknowledged at the Awards Breakfast and will receive a medal and a $1,500 cash award.
To submit a nomination and learn more about the guidelines, please visit the ALA website. Nominations will be accepted through Monday Dec. 3, 2018.The winning recipient will be notified on Monday Jan. 28, 2019 during the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Denver.
The recipient will be selected by a five-member award jury from the Coretta Scott King- Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement Committee of the Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table (EMIERT). The award is administered by the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Committee of EMIERT and is supported by the ALA Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services (ODLOS).
The Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award is part of the Coretta Scott King Book Awards, which honor African American authors and illustrators of outstanding books for children and young adults that demonstrate sensitivity to "the African American experience via literature and illustration." The award is designed to commemorate the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to honor the late Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her courage and determination to work for peace and world brotherhood.
Partners for Middle School STEM: Learning Cohort Application
The Urban Libraries Council(ULC) and STAR Net/Space Science Institute are partnering on the Partners for Middle School STEM project, which is funded in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. This project aims to enhance the capacity of libraries to partner with schools, local government, and business leaders to advance STEM education opportunities for low-income middle school youth.
ULC is seeking applications from library systems interested in joining a learning cohort to explore strategies for building multi-sector partnerships to develop STEM learning pilots for underserved middle school youth (ages 10 – 13). Up to six library systems will be selected to participate in the learning cohort from January 2019 through May 2020.
Details for the Partners for Middle School STEM Cohort Call for Applications are online.
Applications must be submitted online by November 15.