Index
- Sharing stories transforms impressions about public libraries
- Portage extends search for new director
- April 17 is deadline for Cornerstone Award nominations
- Member/Staff News
- Sun Prairie Public Library receives $7,500 grant from Madison Community Foundation
- Save the dates for upcoming CE workshops
- Wisconsin's Opioid Crisis: A Trauma-Informed Response
- Opioid web resources now available
- Registration open for May 23 Support Staff and Circulation Services Conference
- Reboot your book club with the help of ALA’s Public Programs Office
- Plan to attend a free webinar from NoveList & EveryLibrary
- Free ALA webinar on mid-career options is April 24
- April updates from StarNET
- Continuing Education Calendar
Sharing stories transforms impressions about public libraries
Public libraries are instrumental in transforming their communities each and every day through the services and expertise they provide.
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 places 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 sprang from the Libraries Transform campaign created by the American Library Association. Guided by the principle that today’s libraries are both about what they have 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.
Portage extends search for new director
The Portage Public Library has extended its search for a well-organized and energetic leader to direct its operations. This position requires an MLS from an ALA-accredited university, eligibility for a Wisconsin Grade 1 public library certification, and five years progressively responsible library experience. Previous experience as a public library director is strongly desired.
Recruitment will remain open until the position is filled. More information is available on the library website.
April 17 is deadline for Cornerstone Award nominations
The SCLS Foundation Board is still accepting nominations for the 2019 Cornerstone Award, but the deadline to submit is April 17. This award is presented annually to a person or persons who have had a significant and long-term impact on enhancing public libraries in South Central Wisconsin and represent the values and mission of the South Central Library System Foundation.
Submit nominations by completingthe online form by April 17, 2019, at 5 p.m.
Stacy Kundinger (at right) said she is excited to be the new director of the Lester Public Library of Arpin. She and her husband have lived in the Arpin area for 28 years, many of which Stacy has spent running a dairy farm of registered jerseys and being involved in numerous youth programs and activities. Now cattle free and an empty nester, she looks forward to the challenge this new position will offer and the opportunity to reconnect with members of the community. In her free time, Stacy enjoys home renovation, upcycling projects and gardening.
Jim Ramsey (at left) became director of the Stoughton Public Library this week. He is taking over from Richard MacDonald, who is retiring after serving as Director for eight years. Ramsey most recently worked as the Head of Adult Services at the Middleton Public Library, a position he held since late 2011. Prior to that, he was a library assistant at the Hawthorne Branch of the Madison Public Library and at the Kilbourn Public Library in Wisconsin Dells. He lives on the far-east side of Madison with his wife and two young daughters.
As a farewell to librarians and staff at South Central Library System member libraries, retiring Stoughton Public Library Director Richard MacDonald prepared and shared a short video. Take a look at https://youtu.be/rx6Xck11zcY.
The April issue of WSLL @ Your Service is now online. Your comments are welcome! Please direct them to the editor, Carol Hassler. In this issue: National Library Week -- Join us for National Library Week events, from April 8-12, 2019. This year's theme is Libraries = Strong Communities (read more); Docket research on Bloomberg Law -- Online legal research platform Bloomberg Law is known for strong legal analysis content, like its Tax Practice Center and in-depth secondary sources. But Bloomberg Law is also a great source for docket research (read more); New Books -- Our featured new titles this month are Wisconsin Children's Code and Juvenile Justice Code and Federal Sentencing Law and Practice. Don't forget to check out our April new book list (read more); Tech Tip -- How you charge and use your smart phone can have a significant impact on battery life. Learn tips for preserving your phone's battery (read more); Bar Association Meeting Programs -- We're ready to speak at your next bar association meeting! Julie T. Robinson, State Law Librarian, will present information about the library's services and the materials which we provide for practicing attorneys (read more); Library News -- Learn about Law Day plans, upcoming CLE classes, and staff updates (read more); April Snapshot -- You don't need to travel up to the Apostle Islands to see this awe-inspiring ice cave, formed outside the photographer's office in Wausau, Wisconsin (read more).
Sun Prairie Public Library receives $7,500 grant from Madison Community Foundation
Sun Prairie Public Library was awarded a $7,500 grant from Madison Community Foundation (MCF) to enhance collections, programming, and summer reading initiatives for multicultural youth.
The grant will help the library create a special display and collections area focusing on English as a Learned Language (ELL) materials, hire translation services to provide multi-lingual library information for ELL youth and their families, and introduce ELL teen education kits into the school system so students are aware of and have access to available materials.
In addition, the library will purchase additional graphic novels and other popular books of interest to that age group.
The new funds will also enhance the multicultural component of the library’s summer reading program, including expanded prize incentives which may include passes to local sites, reading materials, and multi-lingual Library Champion signs.
“Libraries are true community gems, and the Sun Prairie Public Library is no exception,” said Tom Linfield, MCF Vice President of Community Impact. “We’re thrilled to support the library’s significant efforts to serve all of our residents, especially our youth, in the most relevant and impactful ways.”
Save the dates for upcoming CE workshops
Two upcoming continuing education workshops may be of particular interest to library directors and their staffs, the first of which registration is already open.
- Why Inclusivity & Diversity Matter for Your Library, 9:30 a.m., May 22, Fitchburg Public Library (register), presented by Deborah Biddle. An inclusive work culture promotes innovation, productivity, and profitability. How well do leaders and their teams embrace difference? In this session, we will discuss the team member and leader roles in embracing diversity, inclusion, and equality within the library, the characteristics of highly inclusive leaders and examine the impact of trust and unconscious bias. Deborah Biddle, owner and consultant for The People Company, LLC, has a Master's Degree in Business Administration and more than 25 years of leadership experience. Deborah is a Certified Coach, Trainer, Professional Public Speaker, and Diversity & Inclusion Consultant.
- Hold the Date: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Symposium, 9:30 a.m., Sept. 24, 2019, Wintergreen Resort, Wisconsin Dells. More information will be coming soon for this all-day symposium.
Wisconsin's Opioid Crisis: A Trauma-Informed Response
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services sponsored the Wisconsin's Opioid Crisis: A Trauma-Informed Response conference in Green Bay on April 2-3, 2019. The focus of the conference was to explore the role of trauma in the misuse and use of opioids and the topics discussed at the event will be of interest to public library staff.
Session recordings and other materials are available for free on the DHS website.
Opioid web resources now available
The Opioid Epidemic was declared a National Public Health Crisis in 2017 after becoming a leading cause of accidental death.1In 2017, deaths from opioid overdose totaled 915 in Wisconsin.2 Libraries are experiencing a dramatic increase in overdose incidents and even deaths at their facilities. Resources and toolkits from public health and national organizations are available to help library staff respond to the crisis.
Find a listing of national, statewide, and county resources concerning the Opioid Epidemic on the SCLS website in Outreach Resources. Information on this list includes links to a treatment locator tool, information about opioid addiction, resources for libraries, and webinars.
1U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “HHS Acting Secretary Declares Public Health Emergency to Address National Opioid Crisis.”HHS.gov. 26 October 2017
2Wisconsin Department of Health Services. “WISH: Opioid module.” 18 December 2018
Registration open for May 23 Support Staff and Circulation Services Conference
Registration for the one-day Support Staff and Circulation Services conference in Eau Claire is now open. Full conference information, accommodations and registration are all available for the May 23, 2019, conference on the Wisconsin Library Association webpage. Registration will also include help creating carpool groups if you are interested.
The conference keynote address is titled “Launch a Library ‘Morale Boat:’ Uncover, Use and Celebrate What You Have (even when it feels like you don’t have much),” and will be presented by Jill Markgraf,director of the McIntyre Library at UW-Eau Claire
In her keynote description, Markgraf explains that the U.S. Coast Guard, using what it has in abundance, provides “morale boats” for recreational use by its personnel. “Similarly, we will build our own figurative library morale boats by finding, recognizing and using that which we have in abundance to nurture and inspire library colleagues,” Markgraf said. “Library staff may have limitless demands coupled with limited budgets, but we also have access to resources that -- if discovered and harnessed -- can provide creative, social and sustaining outlets.”
Drawing from successful experiences, and incorporating games and exercises, this session will engage participants in actively identifying and using the skills, talents and interests of library staff and the riches of their environments to cultivate joy, motivation and community in their libraries. This interactive session will combine discussion with small breakout groups where attendees will engage in collaborative exercises to help them generate ideas, collect concrete examples and adapt strategies to their unique workplaces. Attendees will leave with a collection of practical, simple, affordable and usable ideas for boosting morale and motivation in their libraries. In other words, they will leave with a fleet of morale boats to launch in their libraries.
Reboot your book club with the help of ALA’s Public Programs Office
Is your book club feeling stale or uninspired? Has attendance dropped, or are you struggling to keep your patrons engaged? What you need is a reboot. “Book Club Reboot: 71 Creative Twists,” published by ALA Editions in cooperation with ALA’s Public Programs Office profiles dozens of successful book clubs across the country. Its diverse cross-section of ideas will inspire you to rethink your reading groups and try out new ways to better meet your library’s and community’s needs. Drawn from responses collected through social media, electronic mailing lists, e-newsletters, websites, as well as the authors’ own research, this book by Sarah Ostman and Stephanie Saba:
- outlines the main reasons that traditional book clubs can grow stagnant over time and offers concrete advice on how to change things up;
- shares such real-world initiatives as a “walk and talk” book club, book clubs held in non-library spaces like ferries and bars, a discussion group for presidential history buffs, programming for people with developmental disabilities, a partnership with a health clinic network, and many others;
- includes programs from a wide range of library types (public, school, academic) and sizes;
- features short, easily scannable chapters that are convenient for browsing; and
- provides a handy list of resources for additional information.
Ostman is the communications manager in the American Library Association’s Public Programs Office, where she serves as editor of ProgrammingLibrarian.org, a web resource for library professionals. Before joining the ALA and the library field in 2014, she spent nearly a decade as a newspaper reporter, editor, and freelance writer. Saba is a community program supervisor at San Mateo County Libraries in California. Over the last 15 years, she has led book clubs in three different communities. She has also served on the ALSC’s Early Childhood Programs and Services Committee, the CLA’s California Young Reader Medal Committee, the ALSC’s Public Awareness Committee, and the ALA’s Public and Cultural Programs Advisory Committee.
Plan to attend a free webinar from NoveList & EveryLibrary
The moment that someone gets their library card is a key moment in their life. Library Card Sign-up Month should be more than just waiting for more of those people to find us -- we need to find them.
Why is it so important to get people to sign up for library cards? How do you do it if you’re a small library with limited resources or a large library system that’s already tried everything? Join John Chrastka, Executive Director at EveryLibrary and LibraryAware’s Pam Jaskot and Kathy Lussier who both previously headed up marketing and communications for library systems as they share their hands-on experience, strategies, and tactics in successful library card sign-up month campaigns.
Learn about ways you can use marketing and awareness-building resources -- along with the most effective techniques from political or issue campaigns -- to make this year’s (and every year’s) Library Card Sign-up Month interactive, engaging, and successful.
The webinar will be held Wednesday, May 8, 2019, from 1-2 p.m. Central Time. Register now!
Free ALA webinar on mid-career options is April 24
The American Library Association’s JobLIST Placement & Career Development Center will be hosting a free webinar designed to help mid-career library workers reflect and consider what’s next. The webinar, which is entitled Mid-Career: A Time to Reflect and Envision a Future that Excites You, will be held April 24, 2019, 12 p.m. (Central). Register now.
Mid-career can be an amazing time. With years of experience and a variety of challenges and opportunities behind you, mid-career represents a great moment to pause, reflect on where you’ve been and what you’ve been doing professionally, and, most importantly, envision what’s next for you.
Should you continue with the same work that’s kept you in the field up to now? Should you aim for positions with more responsibilities and chances to lead? Should you broaden your horizons by looking at work that will stretch and challenge you? Or, should you try another path where your skills will be valued, though the type of work you’ll be doing may look a lot different from what you’ve done before?
Mid-career is definitely a time of transition. And, it’s helpful to consider just how to best make that transition work for you. So, come join us as we explore possibilities that will move you in a positive direction and build on all the hard work you’ve already accomplished. This webinar is a chance to give yourself the gift of reflection and thoughtful consideration about the future you would like to experience.
The presenter, Caitlin Williams, Ph.D. is an author, speaker, and professional development consultant. She has spent the last 30 years working in the field of career development through writing, speaking, coaching, and teaching. Caitlin has had the honor of conducting career coaching for ALA attendees at is twice-yearly conferences since 2000. She has also presented and contributed numerous articles and podcast to ALA. She has written two previous books on career and workplace topics (one title has been translated into Korean). Caitlin is retired from teaching at San Jose State University, and she is looking forward to new adventures and opportunities.
- On Monday, July 15, join a Live Webcast Event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Mission. This live webcast, brought to you by the American Museum of Natural History, will feature a guided recreation of the Apollo 11 voyage - the space-flight that landed the first two astronauts on the Moon. More info will be available in future newsletters.
- Citizen Science Day is Almost Here! -- April 13 is THE day! Don't miss out on the opportunity for your library to make an impact in your community! STAR Nethas partnered with SciStarter to provide numerous printable resources designed specifically for libraries, including a comprehensive Librarian’s Guide to Citizen Science that will help your library explore a menu of opportunities to bring citizen science to your library. And if you're looking for some great informational webinars, visit and watch the two recorded YouTube videos below.
- Upcoming Webinars
- Lunar Phases
Date: Tuesday April 23, 2019
Time: 4 p.m. Central Time
Get More Details| Register Now!
- Lunar Phases
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- Community Dialogues for Summer & Beyond
Date: Tuesday April 30, 2019
Time: 3 p.m. Central Time
Get More Details| Register Now!
- Community Dialogues for Summer & Beyond
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- Mars in May
Date: Thursday May 2, 2019
Time: 3 p.m. Central Time
Get More Details| Register Now!
- Mars in May
For those that are unable to attend the live webinars, StarNet will have a recording posted on its website within a day or two after the live presentation. And remember, all webinars are now streamed LIVE on the StarNet YouTube channel for times when the webinars are full.