volume #4 issue#28

July 12, 2007

Prairie Views: the newsletter of the Prairie Area Library System

System News

PALS Board Meeting
The PALS Board of Directors will hold their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 at the Black Hawk College Library in Moline, IL. The agenda is available at: http://www.palsnet.info/about/board/default.asp. Please also find attached a list of FY2008 board meeting dates and locations.

Union Listing Users Group (ULUG) Initial Meetings
Union Listing(UL) Members of PrairieCat are urged to attend one of these informational and organizational sessions live at Coal Valley Service Center on Thursday, July 26th or at Rockford Service Center on Wednesday, August 15th, from 9:30 to 11:30 AM. (The July 26th session will also be available by videoconference at Rockford and the August 15th at Coal Valley.) PALS staff will discuss the services, privileges and responsibilities that accompany UL PrairieCat membership as well as the financial commitment. There will be the opportunity to meet PALSGroup staff who will be present, and answer some questions, on the operational and procedural aspects of Union Listing. This will also be the opportunity to nominate ULUG representatives who will attend PALSGroup meetings in an advisory capacity and serve as liaison between the two groups.

Please register on CLeO for the date and place you plan to attend.

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

Fall 2007 LTA Classes at Rockford and Coal Valley Service Centers
Attention library support staff! Are you looking for opportunities to learn more about the library world? Are you looking toward advancement in your current position or in your career? Then the LTA (Library Technical Assistant) Program may be for you. In past years, PALS has offered the LTA program from the College of DuPage via videoconference at both the Rockford and the Coal Valley Service Centers. We are considering offering this opportunity again in fall 2007.

If you are interested or for additional information, please contact Dawn DiVenti dawnd@palsnet.info
This is a great way to enter or re-enter the academic environment.
Check http://www.cod.edu/LTA for more information.

Fall 2007 LTA Classes at Joliet Junior College
Attention library support staff! Are you looking for opportunities to learn more about the library world? Are you looking toward advancement in your current position or in your career? Then the LTA (Library Technical Assistant) Program is a wonderful match. Joliet Junior College is located on Houbolt Road, not far from Interstate 80. The fall offerings are:

LTA 101
Introduction to Libraries (two sessions)

Intro To Libraries - LATE START
Thursdays, 10:00AM - 11:25A
9/04-12/14 LTA 101

Intro to Libraries (This is a blended class which has both online and on-campus requirements. For additional information regarding class meetings and online activities, visit the distance education website
Mondays, 6:00PM - 9:00PM
8/20-12/14

LTA 201 Cataloging and Classification
Wednesdays, 6:00PM - 09:00PM
8/22-12/05

LTA 202 - 30 Readers Advisory/Lib Prog
Thursdays, 6:00PM - 9:00PM
08/23-12/06

For more information, contact Catherine Suchy at csuchy@jjc.edu.

PALS to Offer Two CPLA Courses
In partnership with the Public Library Association, PALS has been selected to offer two CPLA courses. http://www.pla.org/ala/pla/plaevents/cplacourses/CPLAcourses.cfm

For information about the Certified Public Library Adminstrator program.
*On October 24-25, 2007, PALS will host "Serving Diverse Populations."
The event will be held at the Rockford Public Library Main Auditorium at 215 N. Wyman St, Rockford IL 61104.

*On April 1-2, 2008, PALS will host "Current Trends."
The event will be held at the Moline Public Library at 3210 41st St, Moline IL 61265.

For more information about these events, please contact Dawn DiVenti, Library Services Coordinator, Continuous Learning,
dawnd@palsnet.info

GSLIS Fall 07 Community Credit Courses
The Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS), in cooperation with the UIUC Office of Continuing Education, is pleased to announce a limited number of registration openings in several graduate level credit courses via the Academic Outreach Community Credit Program. Formal admission to the University is not necessary, but a bachelor's degree is required. Those interested in enrolling should fill out the Request to Enroll in GSLIS Course(s) form by August 10. Classes start on Wednesday, August 22. A list of classes available for fall semester and the enrollment form are located at http://www.lis.uiuc.edu/programs/cpd/Community_Credit/

Member News

Congratulations!
The Illinois State Library has awarded a $90,000 grant to LaSalle Public Library to help the library make a collection of outstanding children's literature available for statewide resource sharing. Carus Publishing is a highly respected publisher of children's literature, known for quality publications such as the Cricket Magazine Group. They had been based in nearby Peru for a number of years, but within the last year moved their editorial offices to Chicago. Carus is still housing a collection of books in an office in Peru. LaSalle Public Library was approached by Blouke and Marianne Carus, owners and editors, about accepting this collection of children's books as a donation to the library. There are approximately 35,000 books in the collection. The grant will help the library with expenses involved in moving this collection of children's books from Carus Publishing to the library, where it will eventually be available statewide via resource sharing. Congratulations and good luck to library director Laura Frizol and her staff on this exciting new venture.

Estelle M. Black Rock Valley College Library to Open on August 8
The newly remodeled Rock Valley College library will re-open on August 8 after a complete renovation. The college’s $7.5 million renovation of its library building includes more meeting rooms for students, more public computers and WiFi access, among other features. The library is being named the Estelle M. Black Rock Valley College Library in honor of Black’s work at the Rockford Public Library and the Rock Valley College library. What would have been a two year project only took a year because the library staff was willing to relocate minimal library services to another building on campus to allow construction workers full access to the library facility.

Mt. Morris Public Library Overseeing Book Donation Effort
Becky McManse, Director of the Mt. Morris Public Library, is sharing this plea for book donations from her daughter serving in the Peace Corps:

"As most of you know, I have been working as a Peace Corps Volunteer on the island of Dominica for the past year. I live in one of the bigger villages on the island but it's also the village with the highest rate of illiteracy. One of my main projects for the past year has been getting a children's library organized in my village's Primary School. It's been a long process but we were able to open the library in March and it has been really amazing to see the children with their books so far. The day after the library opened I came to school early and the children were sitting in the school yard gathered around various books, reading aloud to each other from Cinderella and pointing out pictures of snakes in a book about reptiles. When they saw me they jumped up and ran over to me to tell me how much they love their books and asking when they could come to the library again to get more! It was such a cliche Peace Corps moment but it really did make me feel overwhelmed with purpose and pride that I had something to do with this new-found love of reading. And the excitement hasn't stopped yet. When I walk through my village the kids are always running up to me to tell me about the book they're reading. I sat with a boy yesterday who was able to tell me how eyes work and why we have skin and what our lungs do because of the books he had checked out from the library. I'm pretty sure he knew more than I did."

"As our school year finishes next week I am working on seeing what needs to be done with the library over the summer to prepare it for next year. Our library is actually in a large closet that was a supply room. Since it had shelves we made it a library. But unfortunately, even though it's small and there are only a few shelves, most of the shelves are empty and I had to throw away a lot of books at the end of the year because they had completely fallen to pieces. Since we have so few books, the ones we do have get checked out every single week and therefore don't last so long. So I am writing to you all to beg and plead for any children's books you might have laying around that you don't need anymore. Or if you come across a garage sale or library book giveaway and see some books that you think we could use I would really appreciate anything that we can get. I've been working on getting book donations for months now and have had a few successes from some organizations and even from Stan and Jan Berenstain from the Berenstain Bears Books who are sending a box, but unfortunately a lot of donations that we get just aren't appropriate for a primary school (we once got a box of adult themed romance novels!) or are so old and falling apart that the kids just aren't interested in them. I have a wish list on Amazon which has specific books that I know the kids love such as Goosebumps and Babysitters Club books as well as some Caribbean themed books that I think they would enjoy since most of the books they read are about America and England. If you are able to buy books and send them that would be really appreciated also. The kids and the entire village gets really excited whenever we get more book donations so any little bit helps. Here is my amazon wish list link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/373Z61D94SY1T/"

Anyone interested in donating can contact Becky McCanse at the Mt. Morris Public Library for more information (phone: 815-734-4927 or email: mmlib@insightbb.com). Only age-appropriate books in good condition are desired and books are needed before September. Donors must arrange for delivery or contact Becky for pickup if you are are in the general Mt. Morris area. Thanks!

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.

Reddick Library has the following to giveaway:
1) Book of the states - 2006
2) World Chamber of Commerce directory - 2006
3) American Library Directory 58th ed. 2005-2006.

If interested contact:
Elaine Chapman
email emchapman@reddicklibrary.org

Bettendorf Public Library
*North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) United States, 2007

If interested contact:
Barb Reardon
563-344-4179

Davenport Public Library
* Shepard's Acts and Cases by Popular Names, June 2005-June 2006
* Guide to Reference Books, 11th Ed. 1996 Edited by Robert Balay

If interested contact:
Brenda Ross
Phone : 563-328-6835
E-mail : bross_at_davenportlibrary.com

PALS-Coal Valley
has the following books available to a good home:
*Distant Force: A memoir of the Teledyne Corporation and the Man Who Created it by George A Roberts

*Signed English books:
Spring is Green
I Want to be a Farmer
The Clock Book
The Ugly Duckling
The Three Little Kittens
The Night Before Christmas
Mouse's Christmas Eve

*Seduction of the innocent by Fredric Wertham #155.92 W

*Earthworms for Ecology and Profit, vol.2 by Ronald Gaddie #595.146 G

*The Old Breed: A history of the First Marine Division in WWII by George McMillan #940354 M

*Strive and Succeed by Horatio Alger YA

*Chivalry by Rafael Sabatini F

If interested, contact Brenda Roman, brendar@palsnet.info or ext 3152.

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 $15.31, based on qualifications and experience • IMRF position Overview of Position: • Position would report directly to the Adult Services Manager • Duties would include answering reference questions, assisting with collection development, Adult Programming, 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: • ALA accredited MLS required • Internet and Computer Skills required • Knowledge of the Sirsi/Workflows Database preferred.

If interested, please submit a resume to:
Shannon N. Pohrte
via e-mail at spohrte@dpvlib.org
or via mail to:
Shannon N. Pohrte
Des Plaines Valley Library District
121 E. 8th St.
Lockport IL 60441
by Aug. 4th, 2007. All applications will be given equal consideration.

Youth Services Librarian/School Liaison
Geneva Public Library District
(Full time, 37.5 hours/week). Service-oriented library in growing community (30,000+) seeks a resourceful, energetic librarian to join our Youth Services team. Work cooperatively with 13+ staff in a busy department; build relationships with local elementary schools and preschools; provide reference and readers' advisory service; select and maintain collections; develop and present programs of interest to students, teachers, and caregivers. The right candidate will be confident, self-motivated, and creative; have experience in the areas listed above; excellent interpersonal and organizational skills; proficiency with current technology; knowledge of children’s literature, professional library practices and techniques. *Qualifications: MLS from ALA-accredited institution and minimum one year experience working with children. Experience in education and/or public libraries is highly desirable. Regular schedule is M-F, 9-5:30 (some evenings and weekends required).
* Starting salary $38,000, D.O.Q., excellent benefits.

Send resume, cover letter and contact information for 3 professional references to:
Kristi Miller-Pease
Head of Youth Services
Geneva Public Library
127 James Street
Geneva, IL 60134.
Phone: (630) 232-0780 x. 243. Fax: (630) 232-0881.
Email: kmiller@geneva.lib.il.us
Applications accepted until position is filled.

Children’s Librarian
Colona District Public Library, a small library district serving a population of 6,699 is seeking a Children’s Librarian.
*Job description: Plans and executes special programming for children. Selects new materials for children and young adults. Coordinates programs with other community groups focused on children. General patron services.
*Requirements: Education or experience with selection of juvenile materials. Excellent interpersonal skills and a genuine rapport with children. Previous library experience and computer skills helpful. 15-25 hrs/wk, including some evenings and occasional Saturdays.
*Wage range: $8-12 per hour depending on qualifications. Benefits: 8 paid holidays, paid vacation.

Submit cover letter, resume and three references to:
Phyllis Von Arb
Director Colona District Public Library
911 First Street
Colona, IL 61241

Day Library Circulation Supervisor
Augustana College, Thomas Tredway Library
* Required: Previous customer service experience; excellent customer service, organization and time management skills; ability to maintain accuracy and work with frequent interruptions; solid computer skills; enjoy working in team environment; enjoy supervising college student employees. Previous library experience preferred.
* Usual hours: 12 months, Monday – Friday, 7AM to 4 PM. Hours may vary during college breaks.
* Starting date: ASAP.

Send resume to:
Human Resources
Augustana College
639 – 38th Street
Rock Island, Illinois, 61201.
Deadline for applications is Thursday, July 26, 2007.

Librarian
The City of Moline seeks a Librarian. A Librarian performs a variety of professional library services in conjunction with the selection, maintenance, and collection management of Moline Public Library services to meet the educational, recreational, and informational needs of the community. Promotes library services to the community through education and outreach.
* Requires Masters degree in library science from an ALA accredited school or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
* Ability to speak Spanish desirable.
* Valid driver’s license required.
* Compliance with City Residency Policy within prescribed time required.
* Annual salary starts at $45,318.

For more details on this position or to obtain an application, visit:
City of Moline HR Office
619 16th Street
Moline, IL 61265
or http://www.moline.il.us.

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

Youth Services and School Library News

YALSA Introduces Teen Tech Week Wiki / Teen Tech Week 2008 Theme Is Tune In @ your library
CHICAGO - The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), the fastest-growing division of the American Library Association (ALA), kicked off Teen Tech Week for 2008 by launching the Teen Tech Week Wiki at http://wikis.ala.org/yalsa/index.php/Teen_Tech_Week. Next year's theme for Teen Tech Week is Tune In @ your library(r). Teen Tech Week will be celebrated March 2 - 8, 2008; registration will begin September 1, 2007. "Our goal is to take advantage of the collaborative aspect of wikis to create resources about programming, collections, and services," said Stephanie Iser, chair of the 2008 Teen Tech Week task force. "The Teen Tech Web site launches on September 1. In the interim, librarians can find ideas for celebrating the Tune In @ your library theme on the Teen Tech wiki."

The 2008 theme was chosen by teens from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds for its focus on music and sound. Music is a vital part of teens' lives; Tune In @ your library encourages teens to take advantage of the library's music and media resources, such as music CDs, DVDs, audiobooks and Internet access to online media. The theme will also give librarians a chance to improve music and media collections, discuss ethical downloading with teens and build exciting programs that are associated with music and media.

With the Teen Tech Week wiki up and running, the Teen Tech Week task force has more planned for the second annual celebration. "In the coming months, we plan to provide more incentives for participation, to get the word out to the public and to offer more basic technology resources such as how-to guides," Iser said. "Starting in September, we'll release a series of free guides that overview the what, why, and how of emerging technologies that can be used to enhance teen services as well as professional development." Teen Tech Week is a national initiative to ensure that the nation's teens are competent and ethical users of technology, especially those technology resources available in libraries such as DVDs, databases, audiobooks, video games and more. Teen Tech Week began in 2007 and has a general theme of Get Connected @ your library.

Public Library News
No Public Library News this week.

Academic Library News
No Academic Library News this week.

Special Library News
No Special Library News this week.

Support Staff News

Reaching Forward South 2007 Conference: Outside the Box!
Reaching Forward South - the 11th Annual Conference - "Outside the Box!", is scheduled for September 20 and 21, 2007, at the Northfield Inn in Springfield IL.
Reaching Forward Web page
Reaching Forward Flyer
If you would be interested in attending, please contact Dawn DiVenti at PALS (dawnd@palsnet.info). PALS may provide transportation based upon member interest. The deadline to contact Dawn is August 1, 2007.

Technology Services News
No Technology Services News this week.

E-Rate Corner

I am passing along an email that I received from AT&T regarding spin numbers. Many of you know that AT&T merged with SBC, Bell South, and Cingular to form the new AT&T. If you became an AT&T customer after November 18, 2005 you should verify that you are using the correct SPIN number. A SPIN correction can be make any time and is fairly easy to accomplish. Spin change instructions can be found at the following website: http://www.universalservice.org/sl/about/changes-corrections/spin-change-guidance.aspx For questions you can contact the AT&T E-Rate office at 877-272-2544 or email them at: rm-atterate@att.com Next time we will continue our discussion of the 486 Form. Remember to send your E-Rate questions to Marilyn, PALS Rockford at 815-229-4470 or email marilynj@palsnet.info

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

Library News Around the State & Nation

Art and Architecture Exhibit
The Illinois State Library will host the traveling exhibit "Art and Architecture in Illinois Libraries" celebrating the rich architectural and artistic heritage contained in Illinois libraries. The colorful exhibit will run from July 23-August 15 and can be seen in the atrium of the State Library during regular library hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Booth Library at Eastern Illinois University developed the exhibit using funds provided by the State Library through the federal Library Services and Technology Act. Two teams spent much of last summer traveling throughout the state of Illinois visiting libraries, where they photographed the art and architecture and documented information related to the art collections, as well as architectural and library histories. Using a variety of formats, the traveling exhibit is designed to appeal to audiences of all ages.

American Library Association Urges Congress to Reform Laws Governing the FBI's Use of National Security Letters
CHICAGO - The American Library Association's governing body has unanimously passed a resolution condemning the use of National Security Letters (NSLs) to obtain library records and urging Congress to pursue immediate reforms of NSL procedures. The resolution, adopted at the ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., arose out of the ALA's concerns over the misuse and abuse of National Security Letters detailed in the March, 2007 report submitted to Congress by the Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General. The report describes how the FBI engaged in widespread and serious abuses of its authority to use NSLs, including significantly understating the number of NSLs used by the FBI in the classified reports given to Congress; using NSLs to collect consumer information, a practice prohibited by statute; and circumventing the requirements of the NSL statute to obtain information in the absence of any duly authorized investigation.

The resolution also supports George Christian's appeal to Congress to reconsider the NSL authorities that allow the FBI to subject innocent people to fishing expeditions of their personal information with no judicial review. Christian, executive director of the Library Connection in Windsor, Connecticut, testified before Congress on behalf of himself and his colleagues, librarians Janet Nocek, Barbara Bailey, and Peter Chase, about their experience in being served with an NSL to obtain library users' records and being gagged from discussing it. In his testimony, Christian asked the Senators "to take special note of the uses and abuses of NSLs in libraries and bookstores and other places where higher First Amendment standards should be considered." The four - known as the "Connecticut John Does"- were presented with the ALA Paul Howard Award for Courage at the conference. Among the legislative reforms ALA urges are:

* Judicial oversight of National Security Letters (NSLs) requiring a showing of individualized suspicion and demonstrating a factual connection between the individual whose records are sought by the FBI and an actual investigation;
* Elimination of the automatic and permanent imposition of a nondisclosure or "gag" order whenever an NSL is served on an individual or institution;
* Allowing recipients of NSLs to receive meaningful judicial review of a challenge to their NSL without deferring to the government's claims;
* Increased oversight by Congress and the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Justice over NSLs and FBI activities that implicate the First Amendment; and
* Providing for the management, handling, dissemination and destruction of personally identifiable information obtained through NSLs

ALA has sent letters communicating the resolution to the Offices of the President and Vice President as well as to every member of Congress. ALA further asked its members, state chapters, and all library advocates to ask Congress to restore civil liberties and correct the abuse and misuse of National Security Letters. "Resolution on the Use and Abuse of National Security Letters" can be found online at http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/statementspols/ifresolutions/nationalsecurityletters.htm.

Ben Roethlisberger Named as Library Card Sign-up Month Spokesperson - Free Promotional Tools Now Online
(Chicago) The ALA announced that Ben Roethlisberger, quarterback of the 2006 Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, will be the spokesperson for this year’s Library Card Sign-up Month, which begins September 1. Roethlisberger is featured on an ALA Graphics READ poster, which is being sent to national media by ALA as a public service announcement. Promotional tools in Spanish and English are available online to promote The Smartest Card. Get It. Use It. @ your library theme for Library Card Sign-up Month. Tools include “52 Ways to Use Your Library Card,” a sample proclamation, press release, op-ed, letter-to-the-editor, PSA scripts and “Smartest Card” artwork. There are also links to “Smartest Card” promotional items available from ALA Graphics. Sample tools and examples of how libraries have promoted Library Card Sign-up Month using the Smartest Card are available at www.ala.org/librarycardsignup.

Observed the month of September since 1987, Library Card Sign-up Month is a time when ALA and libraries across the country remind parents that a library card is the most important school supply of all and the smartest card a student can own. The Smartest Card. Get It. Use It. @ your library is part of the Public Libraries Association (PLA) campaign to promote the library card as the most important card in every wallet. For more information on the PLA’s “Smartest Card” initiative, visit www.ala.org/pla.

Alliance Library System Provides Access to Digital Archival Images for the Visually Impaired
Alliance Library System (ALS) is pleased to announce “Audio Description Illinois” a new website with information on how libraries can use various techniques to make digital archival images available to the visually impaired on the Internet. ALS received a Library Services and Technology Act grant from the Illinois State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State to develop and provide training for libraries across Illinois receiving digital imaging grants. Although the training sessions are completed, the website is a rich resource for any library or agency interested in audio description. “Libraries and the web are hostile places for people with vision problems,” stated Kitty Pope, Executive Director of the Alliance Library System, “Through audio description, they can enjoy the same access to historical photographs as sighted people. The description can also enhance the experience for a sighted person viewing digital photos.”

Audio Description (AD) is the descriptive narration of key visual elements of live theatre, television, movies, and other media to enhance their enjoyment by consumers who are blind or have low vision. AD is the insertion of audio explanations and descriptions of the settings, characters, and action taking place in such media when such information about these visual elements is not offered in the regular audio presentation. The Audio Description Illinois website contains recordings, power points, and handouts from training sessions offered, examples of audio description of digital archives, best practices information, and a set of links to other resources on audio description. As the libraries which received grants do audio description for their photos, these will be placed on their website. Another website with examples of audio descriptions for digital archival photos is “Illinois Alive! Early Illinois Heroes and Heroines: A Multimedia Montage” at http://www.illinoialive.info. This site was also funded with a grant from the Illinois State Library to the Alliance Library System and Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center. If you would like brochures or posters to hand out at your library contact Valerie Brandon at vbrandon@alliancelibrarysystem.com. For more information on the project, contact Project Coordinator Tom Peters at tpeters@tapinformation.com.

A Salute to Veterans: Honor Their Service – Preserve Their Stories
Join us in honoring Illinois veterans on September 19 when Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center presents - “A Salute to Veterans: Honor Their Service – Preserve Their Stories”! A flyer with more information is attached. To register, visit the Alliance Library System webpage. Click on the “Continuing Education” drop box, scroll down and log on to “Register with CLeO” today. Registration closes September 12, 2007.

News from Vendors
No News from Vendors this week.

Legislative/Advocacy News

READ Posters As An Easy Library Advocacy Tool
READ posters make for an easy opportunity to get to know your local officials and get them into your library to tour the building and see you in action. The posters can be the reason for inviting your mayor, councilmen or other local dignitaries to the library.

On a related note, showing the popularity of the READ concept, see the article in this week’s ALA mailing.

Grant News
No Grant News this week.

Just So You Know

State and Federal Minimum Wage Increases This Summer
The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 increases federal hourly minimum wage rates for the next three years:

$5.85, effective 60 days after the date of enactment (July 24, 2007)
$6.55, effective July 24, 2008
$7.25, effective July 24, 2009

These federal minimum wage increases will not likely affect Illinois employers, where the minimum wage surpasses the federal rate. Illinois' minimum wage increases to $7.50 and $7.00 for under 18 as of July 1, 2007.

Here are some websites if you wish to copy:
Illinois minimum wage poster
Illinois Department of Labor website chart of new minimum wages by year

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.