volume #4 issue#7

February 15, 2007

Prairie Views: the newsletter of the Prairie Area Library System

System News

Calling All Trustees
Did you know there are over 80,000 elected public library trustees in the United States? (and almost 1,000 in PALS?) Chances are, when first elected or appointed, a significant percentage of those 80,000 thought serving as a public library trustee would simply mean sitting in a meeting once a month and casting a vote every now and then. Or maybe they were under the misperception that serving on the library board just meant making suggestions for the best books to be purchased by the library. Thankfully, library services have come a long way from the "books only" image that they once had. Electronic resources, reader’s advisory, the Internet, databases, multi-media and 24-hour reference service on demand are just a few of the many services that libraries have to offer in this information age. However, this means that today’s libraries face many more complicated issues concerning information access, censorship and information literacy. Because of that, the job of a library trustee may be more challenging, but also more stimulating and rewarding in the long run. TrusteE-Training (TRU005), the most recent addition to the LibraryU catalog, reinforces trustee roles and responsibilities and addresses some of the issues public library trustees face today. Presented in 4 segments each requiring approximately 15 minutes to complete, this module uses creative interactive exercises and real life scenarios to educate and encourage trustees in their role. Enroll now at http://www.libraryu.org.
NOTE: Although this module has an Illinois focus, much of the information is relevant to public library trustees in general.

It's Statistics Time!
Once again, PALS is asking that member libraries that receive vehicular delivery from PALS count the items that your library receives for the two week period of February 19 through March 2, 2007. Forms will be sent to each library in the next week. If you have any questions, please contact your delivery hub supervisor:
Coal Valley - Brenda Roman (brendar@palsnet.info, or ext. 3152)
Rockford - Marilyn Janssen (marilynj@palsnet.info, or ext. 4470)
Shorewood - Shirley Grasty (shirleyg@palsnet.info, or ext. 2706)
We really appreciate your willingness to complete these counts for us twice annually.

Why Attend Illinois Library Day?
Attending Illinois Library Day presents a unique opportunity to meet personally with local state legislators whose activities impact our libraries. It is also an occasion to exchange ideas with library advocates from all over our state. Don't miss this exciting, active day to experience and observe first hand our Illinois Legislature in action in our Springfield state capitol!

Illinois Library Day Registration
The registration form for Illinois Library Day (ILD) April 19 can now be found at https://www.ila.org/events/reg_ild.htm. There's also a link to the form and other information at the ILD website at www.illinoislibraryday.info. Please register even if you attend only the Rally and won't be taking part in the dinner on Wednesday night or the legislative breakfast on Thursday morning.

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.

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

FirstSearch/OCLC ILL training
Sign up for hands-on FirstSearch workshops. Classes on searching, interlibrary loan, and the OCLC policies directory are scheduled during March at all three PALS service centers. ILL is offered in the morning, and policies directory in the afternoon of the same day.
the afternoon of the same day.

Searching FirstSearch: Coal Valley, Rockford, Shorewood

Interlibrary Loan: Coal Valley, Rockford, Shorewood

OCLC Policies Directory: Coal Valley, Rockford, Shorewood

ILA Sponsors Workshop on Intellectual Freedom at Reddick Library in Ottawa and other locations around the State
Defending Access with Confidence by Catherine Lord is a step-by-step program that takes participants through the history of intellectual freedom and the law, related policies, and approaches to challenges against intellectual freedom in the context of libraries. Utilizing this program, trainers will help participants understand their role in protecting the right to access in library settings and find alternative ways to satisfy patrons whenever possible. This workshop is being offered in eight locations, throughout the state. The training is for all library staff members. Each workshop runs from 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.

The Reddick session is on Tuesday, May 1st. Registration is through ILA at https://www.ila.org/events/reg_dawc.htm.
March 9, 2007 DuPage Library System in Geneva
March 22, 2007 Lincoln Trail Libraries System in Champaign
March 29, 2007 Shawnee and Lewis & Clark Library Systems at the Mascoutah Training Center
April 12, 2007 Rolling Prairie Library System in Decatur
May 1, 2007 Prairie Area Library System at the Reddick Library in Ottawa
May 3, 2007 Alliance Library System in East Peoria
May 10, 2007 North Suburban Library System in Wheeling
May 17, 2007 Metropolitan Library System in Burr Ridge

Information Literacy Summit 2007
Registration is Now Open! Join us for the sixth annual Information LIteracy Summit - bringing together librarians and others to share and learn. Librarians and instructors from colleges, universities, high schools, middle schools and public libraries are invited to participate. Others who are interested in information literacy at these levels are also encouraged to attend. Please register early. Space is limited.
*Theme: “Working Together for Lifelong Learning”
*Keynote & Breakout Sessions: Keynote panelists representing a variety of library types will discuss ways the library community can work together to maximize information literacy as it develops through and beyond school.
For more information about panelists and breakout sessions, see www.morainevalley.edu/library/informationliteracysummit2007.asp.
*How to Register:
Moraine Valley (April 19):
Register online at www.morainevalley.edu/library/informationliteracysummitregistrationpage.asp.

Illinois Central (April 3) or John A. Logan (April 24): Email or mail the following information to the coordinator of the summit you plan to attend (see below). Registration fee should be mailed after registration is confirmed.
· Last Name · First Name · Institution · Position · Mailing address · Phone ·

Email REGISTRATION FEE is $15 (includes materials, continental breakfast and lunch). Please make check for $15 payable to the host institution, and mail directly to the local coordinator, and note “InfoLit Summit 2007” on the check.

Illinois Central College April 3 (Tuesday), 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
One College Drive, East Peoria, IL 61635-0001
Coordinator: Amy Glass, Information Services/Instruction Librarian, Amy.Glass@icc.edu, 309-694-5748

Moraine Valley Community College April 19 (Thursday), 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
9000 W. College Parkway, Palos Hills, IL 60465
Coordinators: Laura Dare, Librarian, DareL2@morainevalley.edu, 708-608-4045;
Barb Rys, Rys@morainevalley.edu, 708-974-5467

John A. Logan College April 24 (Tuesday), 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
700 Logan College Road, Carterville, IL 62918
Coordinator: Judy Vineyard, Associate Dean of Library Services, judyvineyard@jalc.edu, 618-985-3741 x 8404

Member News

New Synergy Class
Congratulations to the PALS librarians who have been selected to participate in the 2007 class of Synergy: The Illinois Library Leadership Initiative. They are:
Pamela Kloser, Joliet Public Library, Black Road Branch
Jannette La Roche, Moline Public Library
Lisa Y. Pappas, Plainfield Public Library District

New York Times Best Selling Author
the Kankakee Public Library and Friends of the library are proud to present Elizabeth Berg. Thursday, February 22nd at 7:00 pm. 201 East Merchant Street, 1st floor of the Kankakee Public Library.

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.

No Missing Books this week.

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.

Yorkville Public Library
Free items to give away. Cases for books on cassette, white vinyl with full sleeve (new-never been used): *19- 6 cassette cases
*9- 3 cassette cases
*1-18 cassette case
*1-15 cassette case
*4-12 cassette cases (large- 10x11.5 in.)

If interested contact:
Dixie DeBord
630-553-4354
dldebord@yorkville.lib.il.us

The Davenport Public Library
has the following items to give away:
*Editor & publisher market guide 2006 (1 vol. - contains data on more than 1600 cities in the US & Canada, everything from ethnic breakdowns to shopping mall information to tap water descriptions.)
*Official ABMS directory of board certified medical specialists 2006 (4 vol. set)

If interested contact:
Brenda Ross
Phone 563-328-6835
E-mail : bross@davenportlibrary.com

Three Rivers Minooka Branch
has gotten many donations and has pulled several books out of the donations that are in excellent condition. We have stored these books for a while, in case something happened to our copy, but it has been long enough and we need to clean house! So, the books are going up for grabs.

If interested contact:
e-mail: Jennifer at lilac_43@hotmail.com.
The following must be included in the e-mail:
1. Which specific titles you wish to have (i.e. Roses are Red)
2. Your 4-letter library code (i.e. TMBB)
3. The name of the person to whom the books should be sent to (i.e. Attention: Joe Smith)
All items are first come, first serve.

Kaplan
is offering free of charge.

If interested contact
Jennifer Smith
jsmith@kucampus.edu to make a request.

Wauconda Area Library
has a brand new, still in the box, second copy of Grangers Index to Poetry, 13th ed. for a discount price of $245.

If interested, contact:
Sue Strauch
847-526-6225
sstrauch@wauclib.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.

Computer Technician
Davenport Public Library. The position is full-time, 40 hours per week, including every other Saturday and may include evening hours.
* Wages/Benefits: $17.133/hour or $35,637/year with a great benefit package.
* Education & Experience: Requires a High school diploma or its equivalent and 2 years of diversified computer experience, or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Associates degree in computer work preferred.
* Job Duties: Configures and maintains the library network; installs and sets up computer hardware and software; troubleshoots computer equipment and software; performs diagnostics, minor repairs and routine maintenance; maintains accurate records of hardware and software; and other duties as assigned.

Send resume or letter of interest to:
Sue Anderson
HR Manager
Davenport Public Library
321 Main Street Davenport, IA 52801
or sanderson@davenportlibrary.com
Applications will be accepted February 12, 2007- February 28, 2007
For more information visit: www.davenportlibrary.com

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

Youth Services and School Library News

School Library Per Capita Update
Jesse White has awarded school library per capita grants to public schools in Illinois. All eligible school districts in PALS applied for and will be receiving the grant funds. This year's grants provide $0.71 per student to support school library services with a minimum award of $100. Grants are available to public school districts that are members of their regional library system.

PALS Best Books List for 2006
Thanks to our wonderful PALS youth services and school librarians, we have compiled a list of favorite children's and young adult books of 2006. Take a look!

Program Manual Submissions Due
for 2008 Summer Reading Program iREAD Resource Guide ideas for "Get in the Game--READ" are due by March 16, 2007. Go to http://www.ila.org/pub/iread.htm to submit your idea.

New Young Adult Services Forum Newsletter
The first e-newsletter from the Illinois Library Association (ILA) Young Adult Services Forum (YASF) is attached. If you would like to subscribe to it, please email Amy Alessio (aalessio@stdl.org)
and Cindy Welch (cwelch2@uiuc.edu) and let them know.
YASF is a newly formed forum of ILA; our purpose is to support library personnel - at any level - who work with teens. The newsletter is a Microsoft Word document and we hope it will be easy to open and use. We welcome your insights, stories, requests for conference programs or trainings; please help us build strong library services for teens in Illinois!

ALA's Notable Children's Materials Lists Available
See www.ala.org/alsc for the newly announced lists of Notable Children's Books, Notable Children's Recordings, Notable Children's Videos, and Notable Children's Software.

Monarch Award 2008 List
The 2008 Master List for the Monarch Award is available at: http://www.islma.org/monarch.htm That website also has info on registering your school or library for next year so that your K-3rd grade students can vote.

Public Library News

Web Junction Has a New Look
If you haven't visited the WebJunction website lately because you found it hard to use, take a tour of the refereshed look of the webpage at http://data.webjunction.org:21080/wj/webjunction_site_refresh/launcher.html or go to http://webjunction.org You'll find it easier to get to Resources, Courses, and Community with current articles on technology planning, dealing with difficult people, and grants for ADA compliance. There are sections for those interested in Spanish language outreach, rural and small libraries, and volunteers.

Free DVD on Public Libraries Available from Gates Foundation
Following the theme of Communicating Your Library’s Value, the Gates Foundation has made an 8-minute DVD, Keeping Your Community Connected, about how libraries serve various communities. You can preveiw it at http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6411714.html. To order a copy along with related brochure that includes persuasive statistics, library patron stories, and a call to action for community members and leaders by clicking on the link below. Please provide the following information in the body of your email: Your name Your job title or role in the community (e.g. librarian, city council member) Your mailing address (Please note, we cannot ship to post office (P.O.) boxes) The name of your public library Your phone number Order by email: USlibraries@gatesfoundation.org

Bill Proposed to Lower Number of Signatures for Trustee Petitions
Rep Sacia has introduced HB 499 which would amend local library act so that a person running for a library trustee would need the lesser of 2% of registered voters or 25 signature. Currently, 50 signatures are required.

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

New Woman's Day Initiative Asks Readers to Share Stories on How the Library Helped Them Start Their Businesses; Issue Features Four Winners of "How the Library Changed my Life" Initiative
Every year, more than 500,000 entrepreneurs start new businesses in the United States. But how and where to they get the resources and support it takes to succeed? The answer is @ your library. From now until May 10th, Woman’s Day magazine, in conjunction with ALA’s Campaign for America’s Libraries, is collecting stories on how its readers have used the library to start their small businesses. The magazine announced the initiative in its March 6 issue, where it asks its women readers aged 18 and over to submit their stories in 700 words or less. Stories can be sent to womansday@ala.org. Four of the submissions will be featured the March 2008 issue of Woman’s Day.

Librarians can promote this initiative locally by downloading sample promotional materials from The Campaign for America's Libraries’ Web site at www.ala.org/@yourlibrary. Sample tools include a press release, newsletter copy and Web button. Also featured in the March issue are the four winners of the "how the library changed my life" initiative. The stories include a mother who turned to the library during a bout of post-partum depression, an Indonesian immigrant who used books from her childhood public library to learn English, a mother who used the library to help find her place in a new community, and a blind writer and teacher who uses the free books-on-tape service from the Library of Congress as an everyday escape. Woman’s Day received nearly 2,000 essays in response to the call for entries, the most it has ever received in response to an initiative of this type. Later this spring, ALA will make many of these stories available through a searchable online database.

News from Vendors

Illiana Educational Products is offering special pricing on the 2007 Compton's Encyclopedia (including the 51 volume Discover America state set for free!) or the 2007 Britannica Student Encyclopedia. If interested, contact:
Dori Duncan
4130 – 28th Avenue
Moline, IL 61265
Tel/Fax: 309-762-3107
e-mail: doriduncan@juno.com

Legislative/Advocacy News

Making Friends Before You Need Them - via OPAL
Carole Dickerson, PPC chair and Director of the Freeport PL, will give an update on legislative issues in Springfield and how to make friends with your legislators and police chief as well as speak on why this is important. You'll want to be a part of this OPAL session, right from your desk, whether at home or at your work computer, to become better informed. There is much reason to be involved in advocacy this year.

Thursday, February 22, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM with registration on CLEO

ILA's very first update for 2007 tells us that it's going to be a busy 2007 Spring Session in the Illinois General Assembly. The Illinois General Assembly. Legislation is proposed to:

* mandate that school libraries must install Internet filtering software, HB 1226;
* amend the Illinois Library Records Confidentiality Act, HB 237 and HB 155;
* amend the Public Library District Annexation laws, HB 178
* prohibit social networking Web sites in public and school libraries, SB 1682;
* improve to the Public Library District Act regarding working cash funds, SB 186;
* amend the state library's Literacy Advisory Board, SB 576;
* mandate for schools to teach Internet safety to students, HB 660 and SB 1472;
* notice and restrict sex offenders in public libraries, SB 364 and SB 417;
* amend the minimum signature requirement for library trustees, HB 499;
* amend the Open Meetings Act, HB 210 and HB 183;
* appropriate $200,000 to the state library to fund the partnership between Citizens' Library of Illinois-Comprehensive Knowledge Service and Health-E Illinois, HB 16;
* expand and extend of the Cook County cap on property tax assessments for certain homeowners, HB 23, HB 418, and SB 13; and
* allow greater flexibility under the tax cap statute, HB 688.

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 February 16

A-Z Guide to Political Interference in Science
The Union of Concerned Scientists has produced this guide to the ways in which the work of scientists at federal agencies has been suppressed or distorted for political purposes. Browse alphabetically, by agency, or by topic, or view the timeline.
http://www.ucsusa.org/scientific_integrity/interference/a-to-z-guide-to-political.html

See also Scientists and Engineers for America <http://www.sefora.org/index.php>, an organization devoted to explaining to the public the importance of scientific integrity. It includes a "scientific bill of rights."

Alt Teen Services Blog
A blog by 4 YA librarians offers "commentary on what the librarians are learning and experiencing." Includes a teen lit blog and a wiki for YA librarians. Among recent blog topics: fantasy sports programming, a library's graffiti makeover, American Anime awards, social music networks, etc. Arrow WAY down for search and browse options.
http://www.yalibrarian.com/

Exploring Data
"provides curriculum support materials for teachers of introductory statistics." For instance, you can learn about scatterplots by using them to find a friend, boxplots by examining the 1970 draft lottery, assessment measures by exploring the age of female Oscar winners or the pricing of diamond rings. Also check out the nice collection of datasets.
http://exploringdata.cqu.edu.au/

Healthy Living Check-up
A quiz "designed to help you understand how your lifestyle may be affecting your overall health."
http://www.surv2.com/web/

Inventor's Handbook
"created by the Lemelson-MIT Program to address the independent inventor's and aspiring entrepreneur's most frequently asked questions regarding United States patents," including What Can Be Patented, How Do I Conduct a Patent Search, How Do I Prove the Idea Is Mine, etc. Also includes resources for investors.
http://web.mit.edu/invent/h-main.html

The Law in Plain English by Nolo
Free podcasts from Nolo, "the go-to source for do-it-yourself legal solutions for work, life and finances," on topics like preparing your own will, how to advocate for special education for a child, the law for dog owners, can a nonprofit make a profit, etc. Searchable and browsable by categories. RSS feed available.
http://www.nolocast.com/

The Library's Place in Place Blogging
Is your library place blogging? If not, my new ExLibris column explains how you could benefit from doing it.
http://marylaine.com/exlibris/xlib297.html

Music-Map:
the tourist map of music
An exploding map of musical relationships. Input the name of an artist to see what other artists people who like that one also listen to (closeness of relationship signified by closeness on the screen); then click on any of those names to follow the web of sometimes surprising musical relationships - from Dar Williams to Shawn Colvin, Lucinda Williams, and Richard Shindell makes sense, but getting from Dar Williams to Meatloaf is a bit of a puzzle.
http://www.music-map.com/

Primary Documents Resources:
a Compilation from PubLib
When you ask for good resources on PubLib, prepare to be inundated with links to great resources. This librarian returned the favor by compiling in one place all the links she'd been given.
http://lists.webjunction.org/wjlists/publib/2006-December/102628.html

Sayings and Phrases
Meanings and Origins
Browsable and searchable explanations and bulletin board entries on the origins and meaning of phrases from literature, folk usage, popular culture, etc.
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/index.html

Strange Maps
Among the entries in this fascinating blog are a map of Oz, the classic New Yorker map of the world as viewed by New York City residents, the world of Orwell's 1984, Stephen King's Maine, "the 10 Regions of American Politics," etc.
http://strangemaps.wordpress.com/

The Top 100 Alternative Search Engines
Why limit your searching to Google when the best engine for your purpose might be a clustering engine that maps results, a recommendation search tool, a spoken word engine, a social bookmark tool, a podcast search engine, etc.
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/top_100_alternative_search_engines.php

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.