volume #4 issue#1

January 4, 2007

Prairie Views: the newsletter of the Prairie Area Library System

System News

PALS Day Registration is Open!
Registration is now open for the 3rd annual PALS Day, to be held on Friday, April 27, 2007, at the Starved Rock Lodge in Utica, IL. Speakers include: Anne Craig, Duncan Smith, Peggy Barber and Linda Wallace, Jenny Levine, Traci Hall, and Marylaine Block. Register on CLeO soon because registration is limited! More information including the schedule of workshops, bus transportation availability and more will be available by February 1, so stay tuned.

E-Rate
January 10, 2007 is the last POSSIBLE date to post a Form 470 on USAC’s website to meet the 28-day posting requirement for the competitive bidding process, and submit a complete Form 471 by the filing window closing date. For more information visit the Schools and Libraries website at www.sl.universalservice.org
If you need assistance to file a 470 form, contact Marilyn Janssen, Rockford Service Center, 815-229-4470

Events/Continuous Learning
CLeO: All continuous learning events sponsored by PALS are open to all staff or representatives of member libraries. Registration is required for all PALS continuous learning programs. To register, visit the PALS CLeO at http://www.palsnet.info/events/

Information on registration, how to set up a CLeO account, and PALS procedures for continuous learning can be found on the PALS website at: http://www.palsnet.info/services/cl/default.asp

PALS Events by Month

PALSGroup Training
Numerous PALSGroup training sessions have been scheduled for the coming months and are available for registration in CLeO. Please contact Rhonda Krahl at ext. 3151 or rhondak@palsnet.info if you have any questions.

Illinois Library Diversity Program Presents: Empowering Library Staff to Meet the Needs of the Spanish Speaking Community
Click here for a flyer with more information and registration details.

Member News

ArtsPower Brings Children’s Book to Life
Bettendorf – January 2, 2007 – ArtsPower, a national touring theater group will be performing Harry the Dirty Dog on Saturday, February 3 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Bettendorf High School Auditorium. Both performances are free to the public thanks to a generous grant from the Bettendorf Public Library Foundation. The length of the performance is approximately 55 minutes and is geared to children ages 3-8. No tickets are necessary and there will be no reserved seating. ArtsPower’s new musical is based on the children’s book by Gene Zion with illustrations by Margaret Bloy Graham. ArtsPower Theater enjoys award-winning musicians and nationally-traveled artists who perform musicals and dramas of classic books on the “rewards of overcoming adversity and on the American ideals of family, freedom and tolerance.”

For more information contact:
Tami Finley
563-344-4194
tfinley@bettendorf.org

Wheelchairs Available for Use In Joliet Public Library
Thanks to Friends of the Joliet Public Library and Remco Medical, a wheelchair is available for patron use at either Joliet Public Library location. Patrons wishing to use the chairs can "check out" the wheelchair at the circulation desk with their valid library card. Use the chair as long as is needed in the building and return it to the circulation desk to be “checked in” when you leave the building.

Happy Birthday Fairmount Street Library
Davenport Public Library – Fairmount Street is turning one-year old on Sunday, January 14, 2007. To mark this historic occasion, join us on Saturday, January 13, at 2 p.m. at the Fairmount Street Library to pay tribute to the neighborhood branch that has had more than 150,000 visitors and circulated more than 300,000 items in its first year of operation. Free birthday cake and refreshments provided to everyone! Also, craft centers will be set up so that attendees young and old can make a customized birthday card for the Fairmount Street Library. Some of the cards will hang in the windows at Fairmount Street in commemoration of the special day, while others will be placed in a file for public viewing in our Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center, located at the Main Street Library. You won’t want to miss this historic event! Registration is not required. For more information, contact the PR Department at 563-888-3371.

Join a Bookclub
The Moline Public Library is beginning two new bookclubs in January. Help us kick off the New Year with great reads! The Pageturners book discussion group meets the thrid Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the library's Platinum room to discuss contemporary fiction and nonfiction. Advance registration is required; call the library's reference desk at 736-5737 to register and for a booklist. If mornings or crafts are more to your liking, join us on the fourth Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. in the library's Platinum room for Chicks, Sticks, Hooks & Books. Bring your knitting, crochet, needlework, or other portable craft to work on, or just bring yourself! The title for January 24th is The Nanny Diaries by Nicola Kraus and Emma McLaughlin. Call the library's reference desk at 736-5737 to register.

Accolades
to the following Library Technical Assistant Certificate graduates from Joliet Junior College's Ninety-First Year December Commencement Ceremony held on Friday, December 15, 2006:
Jamie Lauren Chochola
Susan Marie Hartman
Judith Hodges
Linda J. Holloway
Karla Kay Kanoski
Bonnie L. Lewandowski
Janet Judith Lingier
Linda I. McNicholas
Kathlyn Mary Poole
Victoria Lin Wayne
Carol L. Wroblewski
JJC is so very proud of all these graduates for their dedication and hard work!

Missing Books - we've added a new section to Prairie Views where members are welcome to post information about materials that are missing in transit. As with all Prairie Views submissions, please send to prairieviews@palsnet.info.

In-Transit to SHBB
Your help in tracking them down would be appreciated.
*VID 940.5318 MEM copy:1 31967006289147 Memory of the camps [videorecording] / WGBH Educational Foundation. Tepper, Stephanie.
*FIC MOR copy:1 30378000422638 Jude / Kate Morgenroth. Morgenroth, Kate. Andy Allen Media Services Director Community Unit District #2 815.496.2361

Freebies/Exchanges/For Sale/Wanted

Prairie Area Library System offers a means for members to share discarded items to needy libraries. Procedures are outlined in the Reference Member Services Guide http://www.palsnet.info/services/reference/reference_guide.asp They are also outlined below.

Libraries wanting to offer up materials can email to Prairie Views, providing the following information:
*Library's name and phone number
*Title(s) of the items discarded

A list will be compiled for inclusion in the weekly Prairie Views newsletter. Anyone interested in freebies are to contact the library directly, (no earlier than Monday following the listing). Members are responsible for making their own arrangements. The PALS van delivery may be available for transporting items, as space and time permits. Contact your Service Center Delivery Manager to arrange for delivery of large shipments.

PALS Members - please remember that you are asked to not request or release any items whether they are Free or For Sale until Monday following the publication of the announcement in Prairie Views. This gives library staff a chance to see the message and request the materials if they are interested. Thanks for your cooperation - we have had several complaints in recent weeks about items being released before Monday.

Lemont Public Library
Scholarships, Fellowships and Loans: A Guide to Education-Related Financial Aid Programs for Students and Professionals 2006

If interested contact:
Debbie Somchay
Phone:
630.257.6541

Help
Odell Public Library is looking for a Microfilm Machine Repair Company. We have RP605Z machine. If anyone has the same model can you contact Odell Public Library. Would prefer the Quad City Area.
Have tried RK Dixon.

If you have any information please contact:
Connie Boonstra
815-772-7323

Rockford Lutheran High School
has a large donation of short (6" tall) black bookends. They are used, but in good shape. Email with the number of bookends you would like to request. We will send them out until they are gone!

If interested contact:
smccabe@rockfordlutheran.org

Augustana Tredway Library
is giving away the following:
Physicians' Desk Reference, 60th ed. 2006
Please notify Sally if interested.

Sally L. Cobert
Thomas Tredway Library
Augustana College Technical Services - Cataloging
309-794-7641
sallycobert@augustana.edu

Kaplan University
has the following videos available for free. Kaplan is also offering the following books. Please contact Jennifer Smith at jsmith@kucampus.edu to make a request.

Job Openings
Jobs can be submitted on the PALS website at http://www.palsnet.info/jobs/ or by sending them to prairieviews@palsnet.info. All jobs submitted by either method will be included in Prairie Views for one week and will be posted for 120 days on the PALS website unless the library posting the job requests that it be removed before 120 days. Visit http://www.palsnet.info/jobs/ to views all the job ads that PALS currently has posted.

Assistant to the Executive Director
Prairie Area Library System
Individual needed to assist Executive Director with agendas, minutes and other communications for Board and Librarians' Advisory Committee. Also help with other reports, scheduling, membership issues, communication and duties as assigned. Individual will primarily work at the Coal Valley Service Center. Position is 15 to 20 hours per week. Weekly schedule may vary.

Requirements: familiarity with Microsoft Office suite of software; very good written and oral communication skills; Associate degree or two years college and minimum of four years workplace experience required. Library experience preferred. Position qualifies for IMRF retirement and prorated paid time off. Salary range $12.69 to $19.03.

Visit www.palsnet.info/jobs/application.doc for application form. Please submit cover letter, resume and application to Brenda Roman, Prairie Area Library System, PO Box 125, Coal Valley, IL, 61240 or brendar@palsnet.info. Review of applications will continue until position is filled.

PALS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Library Director
The Galena Public Library District in historic Galena, IL, is seeking a qualified candidate for Library Director. The population of the library district is 4556 with a budget of $240,000, a collection of 24,000 items and a yearly circulation of 34,300.
* Requirements: · BA degree, an MLS, a decided plus · Minimum 3-5 years successful library management · Excellent inter-personal communication skills · Working knowledge of computers and computer programs Responsibilities include staff supervision and development, planning and budgeting, collection development, technological advancement, and promotion of patron services.

Please forward a cover letter, resume and salary requirements by mail to:
Kay Primrose
President Board of Trustees
Galena Public Library District
601 S. Bench St. Galena, IL 61036
Or email: kay_primrose@hotmail.com

Reference and Archives Assistant
(part-time). The Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy invites applications for a half-time, year-around Reference and Archives Assistant Position responsible for assisting in Reference and Archives with student, faculty and staff reference, directional and Archives inquiries.
* Other responsibilities include data entry, creation of research skills guides, supervision of laptops and PC troubleshooting, compiling statistics, sorting and filing Archives documents, and assisting the Reference and Collection Development Librarian with other public services and clerical tasks.
* Required is a high school diploma. LTA certificate or some college preferred. Library and/or Archives experience required, preferably in public services in a school or academic library. Positive customer service orientation needed; recent experience with information technologies and computer applications is required. Organizational and verbal and written communication skills also necessary.

To apply, send a letter of interest, resume, and the names of three professional references to:
Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy
Attn: Steve Zant
Job Code: SS-IRCAA-WS
1500 W. Sullivan Road
Aurora, IL 60506
Phone: (630)907-5909; Fax: (630)907-5918;
E-mail: hr@imsa.edu Applications will be accepted and reviewed as received until the position is filled.

Information Services Librarian
Information Services Librarian Saint Anthony College of Nursing seeks a full-time Information Services Librarian. This position is responsible for the daily operation of the College Learning Resource Center and reports to the Library Director.
* Additional responsibilities include: providing research assistance, participating in collection development and circulation, and working independently both individually and as part of a team to assess and improve services. *Qualifications include: Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited institution, knowledge of medical databases, medical terminology and excellent problem-solving, communication and interpersonal skills. Must have knowledge of current technology.
Salary commensurate with experience.

Please send cover letter, resume and references to:
Tabitha Bilyeu
LRC/Medical Library Director
c/o Saint Anthony College of Nursing
5658 East State Street
Rockford, IL 61108
tabitha.bilyeu@sacn.edu

Youth Services Assistant Position
reopened 12/28/06
*Job Summary: This is a paraprofessional Library position. The Youth Services Assistant performs a wide variety of clerical and paraprofessional talks necessary in planning and implementing the Library’s Youth Services programs anad activities.
* Minimum Qualifications Required: Education: Library Technical Assistant (LTA) and/or bachelor’s degree. Experience: Previous experience working with youth.
* Skills: Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with both youth and adults.
* Salary Range: Salary range is $13.40 to $18.10 per hour, based on qualifications and experience. The position is full-time, 36 hours per week including evenings and weekends.
FOR DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTION, SEE OUR WEBSITE: http://www.westchicago.lib.il.us

To Apply Submit Your Resume to:
Maureen Bajor
Administrative Assistant – HR/Facilities
West Chicago Public Library District
118 W. Washington Street
West Chicago, IL 60185
mbajor@linc.lib.il.us
Deadline for submission - January 15, 2007

Reference and ILL News
No Reference and ILL News this week.

Youth Services and School Library News

Mystery Writing Contest for Children and Teens
The Mystery Writers of America is sponsoring a Mystery Writing Contest whose winner will receive the 2007 Joan Lowery Nixon Award. The Joan Lowery Nixon Award mystery writing contest is a skill-based contest in which students use their imaginations and their language arts skills to create their own unique mystery stories. The contest has two Categories: Grades 2-5 and Grades 6-10. There will be two $250 cash prizes awarded, one for the Winner in each Category. Stories from students in public and private schools must be submitted through their teachers. Only one story per teacher will be accepted. (Exception: Teachers with students in two Categories can submit one story for each Category.) Home-schooled students can submit stories through their supervising parent, guardian, or tutor. Only one story per parent/guardian/tutor will be accepted. (Exception: Home-school parents, guardians, or tutors who have students in two Categories can submit one story for each Category.) Proof of home-schooling will be required if requested by Mystery Writers of America and MWA:Reads. Only one story per student will be accepted. Submissions for the Joan Lowery Nixon Award mystery writing contest will be accepted via email beginning February 3, 2007 and ending February 28, 2007. See www.mysterywriters.org/pages/news/nixon.htm for details.

ALSC Announces Exceptional Web Sites for Children
(Chicago) The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association, is pleased to announce the Web sites added in 2006 to Great Web Sites for Kids (www.ala.org/greatsites), its Web resource containing hundreds of links to commendable Web sites for children. Great Web Sites for Kids (GWS) features links to valuable Web sites of interest to children, organized by subject headings such as animals; literature and languages; sciences; the arts; and history and biography. The Great Web Sites for Kids Committee maintains and updates the site.

Complete selection criteria can be found at www.ala.org/greatsites, click on "Selection Criteria" on the left-hand navigation menu. For more information on GWS, please visit www.ala.org/greatsites.

Public Library News

Check it Out
Over the past few months, your library probably received an invitation to participate in the 2006 National Survey of Computer and Internet Access. If you did not respond, I urge that you consider doing so now to help make the response more representative of all types and sizes of public libraries. It is a relatively short (21 questions) and easy survey. To reach the survey go to http://survey.pnmi.com. If you don't have the code originally sent to your library, it is easily retrieved by clicking on lost or fogot your code? click here. Then go to the Illinois (or Iowa) list--libraries are listed by community rather than library name. It looks like most if not all of PALS public libraries have codes.
PALS members have a great record of being responsive when asked for information. There is such a great cross section of libraries in PALS that a good response helps validate the survey information.
Thanks for helping out. Nancy Smith

Academic Library News
No Academic Library News this week.

Special Library News
No Special Library News this week.

Support Staff News
No Support Staff News this week.

Technology Services News
No Technology Services News this week.

New Books at PALS
No New Books at PALS this week.

Library News Around the State & Nation

Help Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn Put Surplus Computers To Use
Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn is coordinating a statewide effort to put surplus computers to good use. Donate a computer or computers that you no longer need to be used in schools, boys and girls clubs, kids café's, and other organizations. Resale value for used computers is very low; organizations such as these are very appreciative to receive donated computers. For questions, or to donate a computer, please contact: Carolyn Brown Hodge at (217)557-9469 in the Lieutenant Governor's office.

News from Vendors
No News from Vendors this week.

Legislative/Advocacy News

Illinois Library Day - Thursday, April 19, 2007 - Save the Date!
Hotel rooms in Springfield are scarce already. It's important to take action now. Thursday, April 19th, 2007, is the date selected for the statewide Illinois Library Day. More details will follow shortly but for your advance planning, please note that on Wednesday evening, a statewide dinner with Kip Kolkmeier, ILA lobbyist, will be held at the Northfield Inn, Suites and Conference Center, 3280 Northfield Drive, Springfield. At that time, participants will receive packets of information and a full briefing by Kip on the issues. Rooms at the Inn are already gone, but we've been able to secure the remaining 20 rooms at the Ramada Ltd across the street at the state rate of $74 for 2 bed double rooms under PALS (Prairie Area Library System), 217-523-4000.

Early on Thursday morning, a breakfast with legislators will be held in the atrium of the Illinois State Library. This would make for an easy opportunity to visit with your legislators and make them aware of the very latest library related legislation and how it affects us as you'll just have heard a presentation by Kip the night before. PALS also was able to block 20 rooms at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel, formerly the Renaissance, ( 217) 523-7900 for Wednesday night at $70 for a single and $85 for double occupancy. Tax is not included in the rate.

Similarly to last year, a Rally with some motivational speakers is on the agenda. All involved in planning last year's event recognize that we need to change how lunches were handled and you can count on the committee to do so. This year's event will take the best parts of last year's ILD and make it better yet. You'll definitely want to be a part of it and leave Springfield feeling upbeat. PALS arrangements for transportation are still in the works and will be made known as they're worked out. We'll also allow for some time for you to visit the Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library. Even if you spent time at the museum last year, the exhibits change and there are new things to look at and study. Plan on a beautiful spring day among the dogwoods and crab apples in Springfield and block the dates now! It will be an exceptionally busy lobbying year in Springfield this session and our presence is needed to show that librarians are active, that they vote and that they need to be listened to. Please act now and call to make reservations to guarantee a hotel room if you intend to arrive for the state wide dinner on Wednesday evening.

Illinois Library Day Statewide Dinner Details Announced
Strategy Session and Dinner - Wednesday, April 18, 2007. There will be a dinner at the Northfield Inn, Suites & Conference Center, 3280 Northfield Drive in Springfield from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. The dinner, featuring a cash bar, is an opportunity to mix and mingle with your colleagues and develop your strategy for visiting legislators. Kip Kolkmeier, Legislative Consultant for the Illinois Library Association, is scheduled to speak on the latest legislative issues. Register by April 11, 2007. To register, go to the DLS Continuing Education calendar at http://www.dupagels.lib.il.us/calendar/detailpages/1165875762.html. The cost is $30, payable in advance to the DuPage Library System, coordinator of the dinner.

Illinois Library Day Bus Information
PALS will arrange for bus transport from Mendota to Springfield for those attending the PG Delegates/OPAC Assembly Meeting on April 18. PALS will also be working with DuPage, MLS and NSLS to coordinate transportation to Springfield from a stop in Shorewood. Details will be announced as they are worked out. Other transportation arrangements directly from the service centers are in the works also. Save the date!

New READ Poster Added
A new READ poster of Rep. Renee Kosel (Mokena, New Lenox area ) has been added to those previously available. Posters of PALS legislators can be ordered at http://www.palsnet.info/services/administration/posterorder.asp. These are at a low cost of just $7.50 for an 18 X 24 size poster. Other sizes are available also. It's important that you complete the order form so we know what size you're requesting and who to bill. If you prefer, you can print them yourself on your own color printer. Please e-mail inaram@palsnet.info if you'd like the file attachment. You can display these when you've invited a legislator to be a guest reader or to tour your library.

Currently available are posters of :

Congressman Don Manzullo - 16th congressional district reading Theodore Rex (Rise of Theodore Roosevelt)

Senators:
Brad Burzynski, "Tomorrow's leaders are today's readers!" reading Speaker Hastert's book
Gary Dahl "For Illinois Libraries" reading Clifford the Big Red Dog
Mike Jacobs, "Read and live big dreams" reading Lyndon Johnson, Master of the Senate
A.J. Wilhelmi, "For Illinois Libraries"

Representatives:
Mike Boland, "Today's Reader's are Tomorrow's Leaders" reading Skeleton Hiccups to his grandson
Tom Cross, "For Illinois Libraries" reading to children
Charles Jefferson "Reading is knowledge, knowledge is power" reading the Bible
Careen Gordon, "Reading is something that can change the world" reading To Kill a Mockingbird
NEW Renee Kosel, "For Illinois Libraries" reading a book on elephants to her granddaughter
Patricia Reid Lindner "For Illinois Libraries"
Frank Mautino, "For Illinois Libraries" reading Harry Potter
Jerry Mitchell, "It's more than a library. It's a community center!" reading The Horse Whisperer
Bob Pritchard, "Libraries expand your possibilities and enjoyment" reading Making Things Happen
Jim Sacia, " Keeping the mind and body active" reading Enemy Called Average
Patrick Verschoore, "If you can't read, you can't do anything" reading Illinois Jurisprudence
Ron Wait, "Power up to reading" sitting on tractor, reading The American Farm Tractor
Dave Winters, "Learn how to interact with your government through reading" reading The Fair Tax Book

The project continues and other posters will be made available.

Just So You Know
No Just So You Know this week.

Grant News
No Grant News this week.

On the Internet
Our website picks of the week are supplied by Marylaine Block, Writer, Internet Trainer and "Librarian Without Walls," http://marylaine.com/.

NEAT NEW STUFF

No Neat New this week.

Prairie Views will be published weekly on Thursdays on the PALS website. PALS member libraries are encouraged to send items for inclusion to prairieviews@palsnet.info by Tuesday of the week you would like your information to appear.

We will send an email reminder each week when the new issue is available on the PALS website. If you do not currently receive email reminders, please send a message to prairieviews@palsnet.info to have your email address added to the reminder mailing list or visit http://mailman.palsnet.info/mailman/listinfo to subscribe or unsubscribe yourself.