volume #4 issue#3

January 18, 2007

Prairie Views: the newsletter of the Prairie Area Library System

System News

Applications Now Being Accepted
for the UW-Madison/PALS Fall 2007 MLS Program
Are you or someone you know ready to enroll in a program of graduate study leading to a Master's Degree in Library and Information Studies? The University of Wisconsin/Madison is now accepting applications for the 3rd cohort of PALS students starting Fall 2007. The first four classes (2 semesters) are offered via videoconference two eveninga a week at each of the three PALS Service Centers (Coal Valley, Rockford, and Shorewood). The remaining classes are online through the university. Tuition is assessed at in-state Wisconsin rates. If you are interested in receiving an ALA-accredited MLS through the UW/Madison, contact Deb Shapiro dsshapiro@wisc.edu or call 608-262-9195 for specifics.
For a brief overview of the program, contact Jane Lenser janel@palsnet.info or Sandy Ringstromsandyr@palsnet.info at PALS.

Library Appreciation Night at the Chicago White Sox
It is true that football season is still not over, but let's focus on baseball for a moment. The Chicago White Sox will again be designating one game as "Library Appreciation Night" and library employees and patrons will be able to purchase tickets at a discount. The game will be on Thursday, July 5th at 7:11 p.m. at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. Tickets are not ready to be ordered yet, but mark your calendars if you'd like to participate. More details will be forthcoming.

Contact Jane Lenser at janel@palsnet.info with questions.

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, Tracie 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.

2007 National Library Week
National Library Week is scheduled for April 15-21, 2007 with the theme "Come together @ your library". Customizable graphics and other promotional materials in English and Spanish can be ordered from ALA at http://www.ala.org/@yourlibrary and click on "National Library Week".

Illinois Library Day Hotel Information and Room Registration
Bus riders and those going to Springfield on April 18 to participate in the all state dinner and strategy session with ILA lobbyist Kip Kolkmeier, and then staying over for Illinois Library Day on April 19, will need to reserve a hotel room in Springfield. PALS will have a bus to take those participating in the PALSGroup Delegates Assembly Meeting on April 18 from Mendota to Springfield as well as from the service centers. The bus will take everyone to one of two hotels (details below). PALS has reserved a limited number of rooms at a discounted rate. Make your reservation as soon as possible, as rooms are limited and many Springfield hotels are already totally booked. After we use the rooms blocked by PALS, it may be difficult to find overnight lodging in the near downtown area.

President Abraham Lincoln Hotel (Formerly Renaissance) Downtown, two blocks from the President Lincoln Museum/Library 217-544-8800 or Toll Free 866-788-1860. Single Room -- $70.00, Double Room $ 85.00, Triple Rate $100.00. Tax not included in the rate.

Ramada Ltd across the street from the Northfield Inn, location of the state wide dinner Wednesday evening. 217-523-4000. $74 plus tax for double rooms.

Rooms at the guaranteed rate will be held until March 28 after which date they will be released.

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.

PALS OPAL Conference on January 25th
Are you too busy to fit in traveling to training or are you worried about the unpredictable winter weather? Here's a Conference you can attend on your computer. You can go to all four sessions or pick and choose the one(s) of special interest to you.
The sessions are:

*Illinois Freedom of Information Act
Scott Siever, Assistant Pubic Access Officer for the Illinois Attorney General's Office, will present on the requirements and interpretations of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. This first session will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Thurs., January 25

*E-Mail with Style & Elegance
Theo Chesley, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health Training Center Library, will offer strategies and techniques for communication by electronic mail. You will leave the presentation with tools to improve your communications. This session will take place from10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. on Thurs., January 25

*Evaluating Credibility on the Web
Dr Carl Heine of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy will be your guide to the new information tools of the 21st Century Information Fluency Project. This session will take place from 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. on Thurs. January 25

*It Doesn't Grow on Trees: Finding Funds in Your Extended Community
PALS Library Resource Coordinators Jane Lenser and Norma Applegate will bring together examples of PALS members' current use of supplementary resources and will lead participants in a discussion of their own experiences in getting funds to help expand their library's collections, services, and programs. This session will take place from 2:30 p.m. - 3:45p.m. on Thurs. January 25.

Please go to http://palsnet.info/events/ to register and to get additional details.

Member News

Welcome
The Moline Public Library is pleased to announce that Joe Ritchie has joined the library as an Adult Services Librarian.

Moline Public Library
will host QC Poet Laureate, Kathleen Lawless Cox, on Saturday, February 3rd at 2 p.m.

Davenport Library ’s Theatre Club Seeks Budding Artists
The Davenport Public Library is seeking children ages 9-13 to join its newest endeavor, the Theatre Club. This is a chance for budding artists to learn how to organize a show and perform before an audience. The Theatre Club is a reader’s theatre club, so participants won’t need to memorize the script. Theatre Club rehearsals will be every Tuesday from 4—5:30 pm at the Main Street Library in the Film Room. Rehearsals run from January 23—February 13, and the performance date will be Saturday, February 17 at 10:30 am.
Registration is required prior to January 23rd. Go to http://www.davenportlibrary.com or call 326-7900 to register or for more info.

Closed
The Yorkville Public Library will be closed from Jan. 29 thru Feb. 11 while we move into our new facility. We will not be filling holds for patrons beginning Jan. 22 until we open. The staff at Yorkville Public Library would like to invite you to join us for our open house and ribbon cutting ceremony on Sunday, Feb. 11 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at 902 Game Farm Rd. in Yorkville. We will be open for business on Monday, Feb. 12.

He Said She Said Trivia Night
If you don’t know where to take your sweetie for Valentine’s Day, we’ve got the solution! Try to win some fabulous gifts and cash prizes at “He Said She Said” Trivia Night at the Davenport Public Library Main Street location on Saturday, February 10, at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.). Test your knowledge of categories celebrating the differences between men and women. This event is open to 12 teams of 8 players. Singles without a full team are encouraged to participate and will be teamed up with others. The cost is just $10 per player, with cash prizes given to the top 3 teams. Bring your own snacks and beverages. Beer and wine are allowed.
Registration is required. Call 563-888-3371, or register online at http://www.davenportlibrary.com. This unique event will benefit the Library’s building campaign.

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.

* Harvest Author: Tess Gerritsen Call Number: F GER Item Type: Book Barcode: 31533000420672
In Transit from Cherry Valley to NILS on 09 Feb. 2006

*Time Management from the Inside Out: the Foolproof System for Taking control of Your Schedule – and Your Life Author: Julie Morgenstern Call Number: 650.1 MOR Item Type: Book Barcode: 31533000552953
In Transit from Ida Public (Belvidere) to Cherry Valley on 27 Sep. 2006

*Ellis Island Author: History Channel Call Number: VIDEO 325.973 ELL V.2 Item Type: Videorecording Barcode: 31533000421357
In Transit from Ida Public (Belvidere) to Cherry Valley on 11 Oct. 2006

* The Family: the Real Story of the Bush Dynasty Author: Kitty Kelley Call Number: BKCD B BUSH Item Type: Book on CD Barcode: 31533000613292
In Transit from Cherry Valley to NILS on 20 Oct. 2006

* Whiteout Author: Ken Follett Call Number: CASS F FOL Item Type: Book on Cassette Barcode: 31533000880776
In Transit from DeKalb to Cherry Valley on 30 Oct. 2006

* I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More! Author: Karen Beaumont Call Number: E BEA Item Type: Picture Book Barcode: 31533000957822
In Transit from MLLRR (?) to Cherry Valley on 04 Dec. 2006

POKEMON: RUBY VERSION, SAPPHIRE VERSION 794.8 Hol This was sent by PALS van on 12-20-06 from the Kirkland PL--it never made it back to home base No. Sub Roscoe Branch PL. It is a large paperback edition; please check your shelves to make sure it didn't end up in the wrong facility.
Thank you, Roxy Holtapp; Hiawatha School HHSY

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.

Moline Public Library
The Encyclopedia of Associations 41st Ed. C. 2004

If interested contact:
Lisa Powell Williams
309-736-5748

PALS-Coal Valley
We are still weeding out what is left of our circulating collection. For the next few weeks I will be putting in a list of books that are free for the taking.
This week is the start of our Non-Fiction collection. It isn't very big, but these were books that were still circulating at the time of our big weed a few years ago.
List

If interested contact:
Brenda Roman
309-799-3155 X 3152
brendar@palsnet.info

Sycamore Public Library
“Public Libraries: smart practices in personnel” by Peggy Sullivan and William Ptacek (2 copies)
“Designing Better Libraries: selecting & working with building professionals” by Richard C. McCarthy (3 copies) “Hollywood Remembered: an oral history of its golden age” by Paul Zollo
“Moving History / Dancing Cultures: a dance history reader” edited by Ann Dils and Ann Cooper Albright “Juilliard” by Maro Chermyeff and Amy Schewel
“Contemporary Authors” volumes 1-179 (must arrange for pick-up)

If interested contact:
Larry Zevnik
815-895-2500
larryz@sycamorelibrary.org

Crest Hill Public Library
has the following titles to give away:
2006 Rand McNally Chicago 7-County Street Guide
2006 Woodall's North American Campground Directory

If interested call:
Andrew Susalla
(815) 725-0234
asusalla@dpvlib.org.

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.

Part-Time Reference Professional
Hours: (20 – 25 hrs per week)
* Compensation: Starting at $15.32, based on qualifications and experience. IMRF position Overview of Position: Position would report directly to the Head of Reference Department
* Duties would include answering reference questions, assisting with collection development, promoting programs, interlibrary loans, and other duties as needed within the department. Further description of job duties will be discussed during the interview. Be a part of a growing Reference Department Expectations. Employee must be willing to travel between libraries as needed. Hours must be flexible to accommodate initial training, evenings and weekends will be required.
* Qualifications: MLS required, MLS students encouraged to apply. Internet and Computer Skills required, knowledge of the Sirsi/Workflows Database preferred.

If interested, please submit a resume to:
Shannon N. Pohrte
Des Plaines Valley Library District
121 E. 8th St.
Lockport IL 60441
via e-mail at spohrte@dpvlib.org
If by mail must be received by Feb. 15th, 2007. All applications will be given equal consideration.

MLS
Plainfield Public Library District
*Search reopened: Seeking an experienced MLS with supervisory experience to manage the Reference and Readers Services Department in the fastest growing community in metro Chicago. The Plainfield Public Library District now serves 60,000 people from several diverse communities. Under the administration of the Library Director, this position is responsible for the professional leadership and management of the Reference and Readers Services Department.
* Responsibilities include: the development and implementation of reference and readers services initiatives and activities which support the library's long range plan, budgeting and monitoring expenditures, hiring, training, scheduling and evaluating staff, and planning, developing and implementing adult programs and public services.
* Full/Part Time & Hours: Full Time - Hours: Evenings and weekends included
*Salary: Salary from $51,334.40, with IMRF and a generous benefits package.
* Requirements: ALA/MLS degree required with a minimum of three years professional reference experience, including one year of supervisory experience.

Send cover letter, resume, and names/contact information for three references.
Lisa Pappas/Assistant Library Director
15025 S. Illinois Street
Plainfield, IL 60544
(815) 436 6639 (Phone) (815) 439 2878 (Fax)
http://www.plainfield.lib.il.us
Deadline for applications: February 6, 2007

Director
The Ella Johnson Memorial Public Library District, Hampshire, Illinois, seeks an energetic, challenge driven director. The District serves a rapidly growing community of approximately 15,000 encompassing Hampshire, Burlington, Pingree Grove and surrounding areas. The district has an annual budget of $430,000 with a $54,000 materials budget and a staff of twelve. The director reports to/advised by a seven member elected board of trustees. Interaction with city officials and community leaders is an essential aspect of the Director’s duties and responsibilities. The Director must display creativity and the ability to formulate and implement the District’s vision of growth utilizing strong communication skills.
* Requires an MLS degree from an ALA-accredited program; proven leadership abilities; excellent short and long term planning, fiscal, organizational, collection development and analytical skills. Administrative experience in a library district is required, Illinois preferred.
* Minimum starting salary is $60,000, commensurate with experience.

Interested parties send letter of interest, current resume, copy of transcripts and contact information for three references to:
Robert Becker
Ella Johnson Memorial Public Library
PO Box 429
Hampshire, IL 60140-0429

Librarian
Due to retirement, Fountaindale Public Library District, which proudly serves the diverse communities of Bolingbrook and Romeoville, Illinois, is seeking an experienced librarian to manage a staff of fourteen (11 FTE) in technical services functions of acquisitions, cataloging and serials. Supervises the daily operation of the SIRSI integrated library system and library network.
* Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited library school, plus eight year’s experience required. Must have knowledge of cataloging, AACRII, OCLC, integrated library systems and networks; SIRSI preferred.
* Salary range: $24.17 - $36.25 per hour Closing date: March 1, 2007 or until position filled.

Send cover letter, resume and three references, including contact information, to:
Helen Valantinas
Fountaindale Public Library District
300 W. Briarcliff Road
Bolingbrook, IL 60440

Library Director
The Peru Public Library seeks a service oriented administrator with responsibilities for planning and budgeting, providing leadership and coordination for all library operations, maintaining library property,and representing the library in the community. Experienced and congenial staff of ten (full and part-time). Progressive and cooperative Board, supportive City government, enthusiastic clientele. Beautiful modern facility 20 years old, in friendly and growing community of 10,000, at intersection of Interstate 80 and 39, fifty minutes from Bloomington, Rockford, Joliet, and Peoria, and 90 minutes west of Chicago. Excellent schools, churches, mall, downtown and riverfront redevelopment, recreation, health care, and community college. Budget of $312,000. Annual circulation of 150,000+ from a collection of 40,000. SirsiDynix automation system.
* Requirements: MLS, minimum 3 - 5 years of varied library experience at the professional level, including supervision/administration, successful grant writing, and working knowledge of all aspects of librarianship. Technology experience essential. Demonstrated success in working well with staff and patrons. City residency required following appointment. Competitive salary and benefits package.

Apply by mail with cover letter, resume, expected salary range and three references to:
Laurie Smoron, Chair, Personnel Committee
Peru Public Library
1409 11th Street
Peru, IL. 61354

Prefer receipt of applications before February 14, 2007 for review at February 15th board meeting.

Part Time Circulation Clerk
The successful candidate will provide excellent customer service at our circulation desk. Duties include checking materials in and out, registering patrons, collecting fines/fees, and processing over due materials. The position for Circulation Clerk (Library Assistant I) offers 10-15 hours a week and includes some evening and weekend hours.
* Job Requirements include: High School diploma, computer experience and library or front-line customer service experience required.
* Salary begins at: $8.00 an hour. Position available January 15, 2007.

Please send cover letter and resume to:
Mary Ann Dziekan, Library Administrative Assistant
Messenger Public Library of North Aurora
113 Oak Street
North Aurora, IL 60542
or email: maryannd@northaurora.lib.il.us
Messenger Public Library of North Aurora is an EOE employer.

Library Director
The Scott County Library System is currently accepting applications for the position of library director. The Scott County Library System is headquarted in Eldridge, Iowa and serves a population of 26,000 people through a new headquarters, five branches and a bookmobile. The system is governed by a nine person board and funded through a per-capita tax. Additionally, the system boasts a strong foundation and friends groups. The library system has a strong history of cooperation with area Illinois and Iowa libraries and shares a SIRSI system with other members of the Prairie Area Library System. Additionally it participates in Libraries Together, a cooperative project among the four libraries in Scott County founded to provide the citizens of Scott County with better, and more efficient, library services.
* Requirements: An ALA -accredited MLS. 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in public libraries Significant budgeting, personnel, long-range planning and library automation experience required. Experience with public relations, grant-writing and facility management desired.
* Hiring Range: $58,000 - $65,000 with excellent benefits package Applications accepted until February 28.

To apply, send cover letter, resume and a minimum of four references to:
Doug Morrell
Board President
Scott County Library System
200 N 6th Ave.
Eldridge, IA 52748
Or email to: cdavis@scottcountylibrary.org

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

Youth Services and School Library News

Award Announcements Web Cast
The American Library Association will provide a free live Webcast of its announcement of the top books and video for children and young adults-- including the Caldecott, King, Newbery, and Printz awards-- on Jan. 22 at 9:45 a.m. Go to www.unikron.com/ala-webcast. The link is not yet live, but go through this link on Monday. The number of available connections is limited and available on a first-come, first served basis. The press release announcing the winners will be available online at www.ala.org/mw07winners at noon.

Connections
NIU Children's Literature Institute "Connections", the Children's Literature Institute sponsored by Northern Illinois University, is scheduled for March 16-17. Featured speakers include authors Patricia Reilly Giff, Pam Munoz Ryan, and more.
Go to:
http://www.cedu.niu.edu/oep/children_lit.html
to print off a brochure (use 8 1/2 x 14" paper) or to register online.

Teen Tech Week
Register for Teen Tech Week Libraries may now register for YALSA's Teen Tech Week which will be March 4-10. Register at http://www.ala.org/teentechweek by Feb. 1st in order to receive one month free access (beginning March 1st) to Rosen Publishing's new online database, Teen Health and Wellness: Read Life, Real Answers and two weeks free access (March 4-17) of Tutor.com's Live Homework Help and Ask A Librarian online services.

Chartered Coach Trip to the National Storytelling Festival
A new year - no snow - so it is time to think stories - tents - stories - tellers - stories - fall leaves - stories . . . We all need more stories, so check your calendar and make your reservation NOW for the 2007 National Storytelling Festival in Tennessee. The dates are Oct. 4-8, 2007. Check the flyer for more information.

It’s Breakfast Time!
Anderson’s Bookshops’ Fifth Annual Children’s Literature Breakfast. Please don’t miss Anderson’s Fifth Annual Children’s Literature breakfast, to be held Saturday, February 10, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the Holiday Inn Select in Naperville. This year’s morning-long event features special guests Jack Prelutsky, honored as the nation’s first Poet Laureate for children, and Brian Selznick. Also included is a full breakfast, book talks, many Illinois authors and illustrators, door prizes and book sales. CPDU credits for educators are available. Tickets are $40 per tickets. Doors open at 8:00 a.m. for book browsing and registration.
Call (630) 820-2802 for details and to register.

ALSC, Target Collaborate to Support Libraries Celebrating El día de los niños/El día de los libros
Free marketing materials available
CHICAGO - The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has named Target as the official 2007 national sponsor of El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day), known as Día. This annual celebration held April 30 spreads "bookjoy" by linking children of all languages and cultures with books. Through the support of Target, libraries nationwide may receive up to 200 complimentary bilingual brochures upon submitting information to ALSC about their Día celebrations. Beginning February 1, an online event submission form will be available via the Día Web site at http://www.ala.org/dia. Those who register their Día event information by April 1 will receive free brochures and bookmarks, while supplies last.

Día, nationally centered in ALSC, is an enhancement of Children’s Day, which began in 1925 as a day designated to bring attention to the importance and well-being of children. In 1996, nationally acclaimed children’s book author Pat Mora proposed linking the celebration of childhood and children with literacy. Día honors children and their languages and cultures, encourages reading and literacy, and promotes library collections and programs that reflect the country’s diverse communities.

AASL Launches Survey Because “School Libraries Count!”
CHICAGO – The American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is launching a longitudinal survey of school library media programs at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Seattle. The “School Libraries Count!” survey will open on January 18, 2007, and will gather data on changes in the field to gain understanding of the state of school library media programs nationally. “The survey is one of the special projects AASL is undertaking as a result of its new strategic plan,” said AASL President Cyndi Phillip. “In 2006, the AASL Board of Directors approved a proposal that AASL conduct its own annual national sample survey of school library media programs to gain a better understanding of the field and trends for the future. We are asking for support from the AASL Board, committees, AASL affiliates and members to spread the word and get extensive and varied data for the survey.”

While national estimates will be developed on the basis of survey responses from a stratified random sample of public schools, all K-12 schools, public and private, are invited to participate on a voluntary basis. Private schools are being included in the survey with the endorsement and support of AASL's Independent Schools Section (ISS). The survey will be conducted annually and will result in a longitudinal series that will provide data on the health of the nation’s school library media programs. The brief survey's 20 questions cover the library media center's hours, staff and selected staff activities, collection, technology, usage, and expenditures. These basic statistics will provide AASL and other advocates for school library media programs with critical data about the current and changing status of library media programs and library media specialists nationwide. The survey project will be conducted under contract by the RSL Research Group and headed by Keith Curry Lance, lead author of “How School Librarians Help Kids Achieve Standards: the Second Colorado Study” and several similar studies conducted in other states. More information about “School Libraries Count!” is available at http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/schlibrariesandyou/schoollibrariescount/survey.htm.

"What's Your Style?" LACONI Youth Services Program
Attached is the flyer for the upcoming LACONI YS Section program on Fri., Feb. 23rd at the Roselle Public Library. It looks like a terrific offering. The morning session addresses finding your leadership style, and the afternoon is a session on finding a workable wardrobe/style for our library work and all it demands. Included is a delicious lunch and snacks too. Registration is $25 per person.

National Lewis University Announces School Library Program
National Lewis University in Skokie is offering a school library program beginning on the north shore in April. Please see the attached details and share them with anyone who may be interested.
Meeting
Course Description

Public Library News

Library Director Contributes to Public Libraries Article
The November/December issue of Public Libraries includes an article entitled "Are Collection Agencies the Answer?" This provides an interesting discussion about the pros and cons of using collection agencies to retrieve your lost materials and recover costs and collect fines. One of the contributors to this discussion is JoAnn Protenziani, Director at New Lenox PLD. Other topics covered in this issue include library cafes, poetry slams, and a couple of articles dealing with teen services. Another featured article deals with using performance measures and metrics to define the success of your library and show the difference it makes in your customers' lives.

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 News Books at PALS this week.

Library News Around the State & Nation

Construction Grant Workshops
The State Library will present four workshops this spring on the FY2008 Live & Learn Construction Grant Program for libraries interested in the program or considering applying for a grant this coming fall. ISL Staff will review the specifics of the program and discuss the application process. Registration is required and can be made through the State Library's CleO website (www.islcleo.org). The locations, dates and times are:
Tuesday, April 24 1-3 PM, Metropolitan Library System, Burr Ridge
Thursday, April 26 10-Noon, Alliance Library System, East Peoria
Tuesday, May 1 1-3 PM, Illinois State Library, Room 403
Thursday, May 3 1-3 PM, Benton Public Library, Benton

Applications Now Open for SPLMI and ISPL
The Illinois State Library has opened applications for it's two annual institutes. The Small Public Library Management Institute (SPLMI) is open to Illinois public library directors only. Although it is aimed primarily at new directors, directors with several years experience who have attended have indicated that they've found the experience very worthwhile. So if you are a veteran director who's not had the opportunity to attend, please consider applying. Many, many PALS member public library directors have attended SPLMI over the years. Talk with your neighboring director to learn what a great experience it is.

The Institute for School and Public Librarians focuses on the basic skills and knowledge needed by school and public librarians. It is especially useful for those staff having a limited formal library education background but others can benefit also. Most of the costs of both institutes are covered by grants and PALS will pay the $50 fee for members accepted as attendees. Please send a copy of your application to nancys@palsnet.info.

National Library Agenda Draft Available for Comment
(CHICAGO) The result of 12 months of conversations and two days of intensive planning, American Library Association (ALA) President Leslie Burger has released the discussion draft of “Toward a National Agenda for Libraries” in preparation for the ALA Midwinter Meeting, January 19-24. The working document is available online at the national agenda wiki: http://wikis.ala.org/nationallibraryagenda/. Dozens of policy and decision makers met in a Washington, D.C., December 10-11 summit to articulate key agenda items that would enhance support for improving libraries, as well as help build a case for investing in libraries at the local, state and national level. Participants also identified key trends and issues, discussed the scope of the agenda and proposed a timeline for implementation.

The national agenda is grouped into six major theme areas, each with five or six proposed agenda items:
* Libraries preserve the past and provide a bridge to the future
* Libraries build and strengthen communities
* Libraries support lifelong learning
* Libraries create information and technology literate communities
* Libraries encourage economic development
* Libraries support democracy

“It’s time to set a bold and inspiring agenda for 21st century library service,” Burger said. “Our goal is to have a clear, compelling and positive National Agenda for our nation’s libraries, an agenda that will provide a focus for activities for the years to come. I’m proud of the work we did in December, and I hope ALA member groups and the library community at large will add their voices to this important national conversation.”

Burger and the National Library Agenda Task Force seek comments before February 15 to nationalagenda@princetonlibrary.org so the agenda can be finalized in time for National Library Legislative Day May 1. For more information on the National Library Agenda Summit and the draft agenda, please visit http://lb.princetonlibrary.org/nla.html.

Conference Discount
The 22nd annual Computers in Libraries Conference - Internet@Schools East 2007 will be held April 16 - 18 in Arlington, Virginia. This conference is for librarians and information professionals who need to know about the latest technologies, equipment, software, and services available. The event caters to all interests and all levels of knowledge, and provides many exciting networking opportunities. Topics include: Searching and Search Engines; Digital Content Management; Web Design, Development, and Usability; Intranets, Portals, and Knowledge Management; E-Learning, Information Literacy, and Training; Building and Managing Digital Libraries and E-Collections; and Web 2.0 Tools and Roles.

A special rate of $199 is available for this 3-day event. In addition, Internet@Schools East 2007, a specialized two-day conference sponsored by MultiMedia & Internet@Schools, will be held on April 17-18 in conjunction with Computers in Libraries 2007. The discount price is $99 for the Internet@Schools East conference and $199 for the combo of Internet@Schools East and Computers in Libraries general conference.

For more information regarding conference topics, preliminary program, hotel information and exhibitors list, please go to http://www.infotoday.com/cil2007. A PDF registration form can be found at: https://secure.infotoday.com/cil/CIL2007_Registration.pdf. To receive the discounted price, send your registration with check made payable to Information Today Inc. no later than March 7 to:
Jill Heffernan
Illinois State Library
ILLINET/OCLC Office
300 South Second Street
Springfield, IL 62701-1796.

News from Vendors
No News from Vendors this week.

Legislative/Advocacy News

Rides to Illinois Library Day On CLEO
You can now sign up for a ride to Illinois Library Day (ILD), April 18 and 19, on CLEO. Please do so now if you're planning to ride in a day early to take part in the state wide strategy dinner and legislative update with Kip Kolkmeier. In addition to being an up to the minute discussion of newly introduced legislation, the dinner will allow you to mingle with your cohorts from around the state. Last year, participants found that in casual conversation with trustees and librarians from other systems, our local issues and concerns were universal. It made for good conversation and exchange of ideas. ILD (Illinois Library Day) packets will also be available so you can look those over for the next day's ILD.

On the next day, Thursday morning, you'll have an opportunity to have breakfast at 7:30 am with many of our legislators. The breakfast, sponsored by ILA, will be in the atrium of the Illinois State Library. This will make it easily accessible for the legislators before they start their committee meetings and sessions. Having heard Kip the prior evening, you'll have brief sentence talking points and converse with them in more leisurely fashion than trying to catch them in their offices or attempting to call the legislators off the floor. Registration for the state wide dinner is through DuPage LS, coordinator of the dinner. Registration for the breakfast will be on the ILA web page along with registration for ILD itself. Please be sure to make your hotel reservations soon. There is limited availability in Springfield this spring. We were unable to block enough rooms at one hotel and have done so at two. One is near the Rally on Thursday, the other is near the dinner on Wednesday evening.

In order that you can participate in the events, we want to make it easy for you to arrive there! The exact times of departure will be posted later for the three service centers. The departure from Mendota will be after the conclusion of the Delegates Assembly Meeting. We'll get you there in time to check in at your hotel prior to the dinner. See the PALS web site for information on hotels and the state wide dinner.

Mark Your Calendar for 2007 National Library Legislative Day
The 2007 National Library Legislative Day will be Tuesday, May 1, 2007. The Illinois Library Association has reserved a room block at the Capitol Hill Suites, 200 C Street, SW, Washington, DC 20003; phone: 888-627-7811; $219 single/double rate for a junior efficiency suite and $239 for a superior suite or one bedroom deluxe suite, 14.5% sales tax not included. When making reservations, please mention the Illinois Library Association. The event's registration form will appear in the February 2007 ILA Reporter.

Just So You Know
Labor & Employment Law Insights, January 2007

Grant News

NEH, ALA Public Programs Office Announce Pilot Project Offering American Art Resources for Schools and School Libraries - “Picturing America” Applications Available Online through March 19
CHICAGO - The American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office (PPO), in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), is pleased to announce “Picturing America,” a new grant opportunity for schools and school libraries. A pilot project of the National Endowment for the Humanities’ We the People program, “Picturing America” has been created to promote the teaching, study and understanding of American history and culture in K-12 schools through examples of the nation’s most significant works of art and architecture and to facilitate interdisciplinary partnerships between school library media specialists, art teachers, classroom instructors and other educators. “Picturing America” will provide 500 public and private schools with a collection of 20 double-sided, laminated posters (24” x 36”) depicting works of American art; related reading lists; and a 100-page resource booklet with information about the paintings, sculpture, architecture, and crafts reproduced. Public, private, parochial and charter schools and home school consortia (K-12) are eligible to receive “Picturing America” awards. Applications may be submitted on behalf of the schools by school librarians, art teachers, classroom teachers and other educators and school administrators. The online application is available at http://publicprograms.ala.org/picturingamerica.

Among the artists and images featured in the “Picturing America” poster collection are the following:
· Grant Wood, The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, 1931 (oil painting)
· Mary Cassatt, The Boating Party, 1893/1894 (oil painting)
· Joseph Stella, Brooklyn Bridge, ca. 1919 (oil painting)
· Charles Sheeler, American Landscape, 1928 (oil painting)
· William Van Alen, Chrysler Building, New York, NY, 1928-1930 (architecture)
· Edward Hopper, House by the Railroad, 1925 (oil painting)
· Frank Lloyd Wright, Fallingwater (Kaufmann House, Mill Run, PA), 1936-1939 (architecture)
· Jacob Lawrence, The Migration Series, No. 57, 1940-1941 (tempera painting)
· Romare Bearden, The Dove, 1964 (collage)
· James Karales, Selma-to-Montgomery March for Voting Rights in 1965, 1965 (photograph)
· Dorothea Lange, Migrant Mother, 1936 (photograph)
· Norman Rockwell, Freedom of Speech, 1943 (oil painting)
· Martin Puryear, Ladder for Booker T. Washington, 1996 (wood sculpture)
· Walker Evans, Brooklyn Bridge, 1929 (photograph)
· Louis Comfort Tiffany, Autumn Landscape, 1923-1924 (stained glass)
· Mission Nuestra Señora de la Concepción de Acuña, 1755, San Antonio, Texas (architecture and fresco)

A complete list of “Picturing America” images, as well as guidelines, programming ideas, and applications, are available online at http://publicprograms.ala.org/picturingamerica. Online applications will be accepted January 8 through March 19, 2007.

Penny Severns' Summer Family Literacy Program Grants
The Illinois State Library is seeking applications from libraries to provide summertime family literacy activities for low-literate parents and their children. Grants up to $4,800 will be awarded. The deadline for application is Thursday, Feb. 1st. See http://literacy.kent.edu/illinois/grantinfo.htm for details.

Other ALA/NEH Grant Opportunities
This message is a reminder to apply for one or more of the programming grants currently available from the ALA Public Programs Office (PPO). Major support for these projects has been provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). For complete details, including applications, visit the Public Programs Office Web site at http://www.ala.org/publicprograms. Current grant opportunities include:

We the People Bookshelf on the "Pursuit of Happiness" (collection development) Applications due *JANUARY 31, 2007* Awards will be given to 2,000 public and school (K-12) libraries
"Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World" (traveling exhibit) Applications due *FEBRUARY 9, 2007* Awards will be given to 20 public, academic and special libraries
"Lewis and Clark and the Indian Country" (traveling exhibit) Applications due *FEBRUARY 9, 2007* Awards will be given to 25 public, academic and special libraries

Past recipients of PPO grant projects are encouraged to apply. If you have questions or require assistance, please contact us at 800/545-2433, extension 5045 or publicprograms@ala.org.

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 January 19

24 Languages
health information in multiple languages "over 200 health education brochures in 24 different languages." The brochures are also available in multiple formats, including audio. Links to related resources are available as well.
http://library.med.utah.edu/24languages/

Animal Recordings from the Macaulay Library, Cornell
Search through "the world's largest archive of animal sounds.We have more than 160,000 recordings of 67 percent of the world's birds, and rapidly increasing holdings of insects, fish, frogs, and mammals." Note that not all selections are digitized.
http://www.animalbehaviorarchive.org/loginPublic.do

Civic Strategies
A site for anyone seeking "information that can make you a better civic leader, tell you how other places deal with problems or show you how to manage community change." Check out its online library of articles, information, analyses and presentations about regions, cities and leadership, its annotated links to "urblogs" (blogs dealing with urban issues), and its resources (book reviews, documents, an issues scan and web links).
http://www.civic-strategies.com/

DailySource.org:
Quality News from Around the Internet
Like "Google News with human editors and higher ideals." Coverage includes the usual topics plus religion, arts, environment, international news, and columns, from newspaper, broadcast news and magazine websites.
http://dailysource.org/

The Data and Story Library
"an online library of datafiles and stories that illustrate the use of basic statistics methods. We hope to provide data from a wide variety of topics so that statistics teachers can find real-world examples that will be interesting to their students." Wideranging topics include passenger car mileage, homefield advantage, smoking and cancer, Hubble's Constant, refusals in mortgage lending, US temperatures, taxes and home prices, and lots more.
http://lib.stat.cmu.edu/DASL/

Drawer Geeks
Cartoonists and animators offer their unique takes on characters like Santa Claus, the Grinch, Alice in Wonderland, Darth Vader, etc.
http://www.drawergeeks.com/

Free Science and Video Lectures Online
Searchable blog-based archive offers lectures and slides for introductory science and math courses, and a wide variety of more specialized topics.
http://freescienceonline.blogspot.com/

LibraryCareers.org
The site you need to steer potential recruits to. Jargon-free explanations of why the career might suit them, the kinds of libraries and library careers, the training required, and resources to help them achieve their career goal.
http://www.ala.org/ala/hrdr/librarycareerssite/home.htm

Non-toxic Home Care
Parents of curious toddlers may especially appreciate this guide to non-toxic cleaning solutions, polishes, and other home care solutions you can make yourself. While you're there, check out other parts of the EarthEasy site, where you'll find recipes, tips on energy saving, gardening, lawn care and low-environmental-impact recreation.
http://eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm

Separated by a Common Language
An interesting blog about the differences between British and American English.
http://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/

USA.gov:
the US Government's Official Web Portal
The new name and URL for the site formerly known as FirstGov. For the time being, the old URL will still get you here, but you should probably change your links.
http://www.usa.gov/

What Does 200 Calories Look Like?
An instructive visual comparison of 200 calories worth of broccoli, cheeseburger, Doritos, flax bread, Fruit Loops, peanut butter, and many other common foods. You might enjoy exploring the rest of the site, whose purpose is to provide "clear answers for common questions."
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-does-200-calories-look-like.htm

Wikiseek:
Search Wikipedia and its external links
The idea behind this restricted search is to retrieve more authoritative information and limit the effect of spam and search engine optimization schemes. Try it with subjects you know well and see if you think it succeeds.
http://www.wikiseek.com/

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.