volume #4 issue#37

September 13, 2007

Prairie Views: the newsletter of the Prairie Area Library System

System News

Our Condolences
to Crystal Talbot, PALS Financial Manager, on the death of her uncle, Thomas Talbot this week. Our thoughts and prayers are with Crystal and her family at this difficult time.

PALS Board Meeting
The PALS Board will meet on Tuesday, September 18, 2007, from 10am-2pm at LaSalle Public Library, 305 Marquette St., LaSalle, IL, 61301. The agenda is available on the PALS website.

Neighborhood Videoconferencing Update
As of next week, PALS will finally have accomplished our goal (since we became PALS) of establishing a videoconference site in each of our eight "neighborhoods." The final neighborhood site will be installed Monday at the Elizabeth campus of Highland Community College. Here's a list of all the neighborhood sites:

Coal Valley neighborhood - Coal Valley Service Center
Freeport neighborhood - Highland Community College, Elizabeth campus
Kankakee neighborhood - Kankakee Public Library
LaSalle neighborhood - LaSalle Public Library
Rockford neighborhood - Rockford Service Center
Shorewood neighborhood - Shorewood Service Center
Sterling neighborhood - Sterling Public Library
Sycamore neighborhood - Sycamore Public Library

PALS staff has now begun scheduling some videoconferenced events at neighborhood locations when they are available. For instance, the upcoming Public Libraries Meeting (September 25), the Marketing Team meeting (October 3) and the grant reporting workshop (October 3) are all available at some new neighborhood locations. The All PALS Meeting on November 6 will be available at all eight neighborhood sites. Availability by neighborhood will vary depending on whether the library's room is available for a particular event. Separate events have been created in CLeO for each available neighborhood location. The aim is to make it more convenient for members to attend events/meetings. Watch for the announcement of more neighborhood events coming soon!

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

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

*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

Member News

Regional Author Fair October 20 at Joliet Public Library
Mark your calendars for October 20! Joliet Public Library is hosting its fourth annual Regional Author Fair at the Black Road Branch, 3395 Black Road, in Joliet. Plainfield, Shorewood and New Lenox Public are co-hosting the event. Between 11:00am and 3:00pm, you’ll be able to meet and chat with local authors of fiction, non-fiction, and children’s materials-something for readers of all ages. Adult authors Michael Black, Travis Thrasher, Stacey Ballis, Shane Gericke, Denise Swanson & Susan McBride; children’s authors Patricia Malone & Janet Riehecky are just some of the many authors that will be present. You’ll find a complete listing of all authors attending on our library website www.joliet.lib.il.us There is no charge to attend the fair and meet the authors; participating authors will have copies of their books for sale and will be glad to sign them for you. A great chance to purchase some new reading material! Don’t forget the approaching holidays; books make great gifts!

Meet Author Jonathan Eig at the Kankakee Public Library
Meet Jonathan Eig at the Kankakee Public Library on Thursday, September 27 at 7:00pm. Eig is the author of
Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson’s First Season and the New York Times best-selling
Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig.
Luckiest Man won the Casey Award for the best baseball book of 2005 and was reviewed in the New York Times Book Review as the “first rank of sports biographies.” This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Autographed copies of Eig’s books will be available for sale at this program.
The Kankakee Public Library is located at 201 E. Merchant St. in Kankakee. For more information about this program, please contact the Library staff at 815/939-4564.

John Buchtel Gives Presentation at the St. Ambrose University
John Buchtel, Curator of Rare Books at the Johns Hopkins University, will give a presentation on “How to Read a Book Without Reading the Text: Books as Physical Artifacts” on Wednesday, September 19th, 7:00 p.m., in the Rogalski Center at St. Ambrose University. The event is free and open to the public. This presentation is the opening event for a year-long festival titled “From Parchment to Pixels: The Year of the Book” that will celebrate the history, culture, and art of the book.

Augustana Library
While the holdings of Augustana's Tredway Library are not part of PrairieCat, Quad Cities area residents are invited to use Augustana's library! If your library was part of Quad Linc and/or the River Bend Library System, tell your patrons to bring in their PALS library card, a photo I.D. and a piece of mail indicating a current address. We will issue them an Augustana library card and they will be free to check out our circulating resources. In addition, our licensed databases and non-circulating items are available to anyone who comes into the library. We admit that parking at Augustana may not always be easy (college campuses are like that), but your patrons are certainly welcome!
Questions? Please call our Circulation staff at 309-794-7310.

Malta library closed until September 17th.

Officially Open
Trinity Medical Center Health Sciences Library, Rock Island (TRIG) will officially open its newly renovated library on Wednesday, September 19th. Our materials are coming back from storage, so we’ll be able to process holds for member libraries. We look forward to serving our customers and member libraries again.

Featured in American Libraries
The Moline Public Library and Moline Dispatch "My Favorite Book" project is featured in the September 2007 issue of American Libraries on p. 23.

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) Peterson's scholarships, grants, & prizes 2007.
2) Requirements for certification of teachers, counselors, librarians, administrators for elementary and secondary schools 2005-2006.
3) 2006 Collegeboard college handbook

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

Kaplan University is offering the books in the attached lists free of charge.
List 1
List 2

If interested contact:
Jennifer Smith
Email: jsmith@kucampus.edu

Free for the asking:
Audiocassette albums, 1,2,3,4 capacity, white in color, as seen on page 174 of the 2007 Demco catalog
Clear hubless videocassette cases as seen on page 170 of the 2007 catalog Amaray
DVD single cases in charcoal gray, as seen on page 150 of the 2007 Demco catalog

If interested contact:
Kathy Boreham, Plainfield Public Library
Email: kboreham@plainfield.lib.il.us

Morrison High School Library has three paperback books to give away:
* Roberts, Garyn G. The Prentice Hall Anthology of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 2003.
* Ellis, Jack C., and Virginia Wright Wexman. A History of Film. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2002.
* Sutton, John. Law/Society: Origins, Interactions, and Change. Sociology for a new century. Thousand Oaks, Calif: Pine Forge Press, 2001.

If interested contact:
Laura Staublin
Email: laura.staublin@morrisonschools.org

Wanted
Our local historical society is putting together a collection of old textbooks to use in the museum that they have just opened (it used to be a schoolhouse). They would particularly like old McGuffy Readers, Dick and Jane series, and any textbooks from the 1890s through the 1940s. If you receive anything like this and would like to get rid of them, please send them to us at New Lenox Public Library District (NLBB) and we will give them to the historical society.

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.

Reference and Instruction Librarian
Provides assistance and instruction to patrons regarding the use of the library's print and electronic resources. Acts as a liaison for the university and the library with local and distance students and staff, as well as community patrons. Takes a lead role, under the supervision of the Head of Public Services, providing bibliographic instruction (in a variety of formats) and developing, organizing and disseminating materials to assist distance students and faculty with their research needs.

If interested go to http://www.stfrancis.edu/employment

Archives Librarian
Performs a variety of duties involved in the organization, arrangement, and retention of official University records, and describes records having continuing administrative, legal, fiscal or historical value. Acts as a liaison for the university and the library with local and distance users, as well as unaffiliated researchers. Provides assistance and instruction to patrons regarding the use of the library's print and electronic resources and archival materials.

If interested go to http://www.stfrancis.edu/employment


Library Acquisitions Specialist
Responsible for ordering, receiving and invoicing of all library materials necessary for maintaining the library collection and sustaining the physical plant, using the I-SHARE Voyager system for book, audiovisual, and periodical materials and Banner for other library supplies. Insures that the invoices are paid in a timely fashion through Voyager and Banner systems. Maintains records on standing orders and renewals.

If interested go to http://www.stfrancis.edu/employment

Cataloging Librarian
St. Charles PLD
*Schedule: (Full-time 38 hours a week, flexible daytime hours, Monday through Friday), and will work with a team of professinals and para-professionals.
*Duties: Will include cataloging and classifying jubvenile and adult books and AV items, adding new bibliographic records into thei on-line catalog, maintaining catalog records, and utilizing OCLC in editing and creating records.
*Qualifications: ALA accredited MLS or MLIS degree required. Knowledge of DDC, LCRI< LCSH< and MARC formats required. Experience with OCLC and Integrated Library System preferred. Working knowledge of Spanish also preferred.
*Minimum starting salary: From $35,388 to $44,134 (Level I) and from $37,703 to $47,041 (Level II), depending on experience.
*Benefits: This position also includes all full time staff benefits, including health, dental, and life insurance, 4 weeks vacation, 8 paid holidays, 12 sick days, 2 personal days and participation in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund.

For all of these position, applications are available at the main circulation desk;
Please apply inperson or send resume to:
Bryan A. Wood
Assistant Director
St. Charles Public Library District
One South 6th Avenue
St. Charles, IL 60174
Website: http://www.stcharleslibrary.org

Reference and ILL News

Reference News:
PDR online is no longer provided to libraries under the Illinois State Library’s E-Rich program, so you may want to look at these free websites for information about medications:
PDRHealth: http://www.pdrhealth.com/
MedLine Plus: http://medlineplus.gov/
MayoClinic.com: http://www.mayoclinic.com/
RxList: http://www.rxlist.com/

Ask?Away FREE Trial
It's not too late! Does your library provide 24/7/365 virtual reference? If not, consider participating in AskAway the statewide, multi-type-library, online reference service, staffed 24/7 with qualified librarians. The Illinois State Library is still promoting the free trial of Ask?Away through December 15, 2007. Any library can still join for free and take advantage of the remainder of the trial period. No cost to participate until the free trial is over.

For more information, visit http://www.askawayillinois.info/
or contact Natalie Tagge at ISL: (217) 557-6329 or ntagge@ilsos.net.

Learn About Books in RUSA Reader's Advisory Online Course
What do the books about Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea have in common? What genres would novels by Kurt Vonnegut or Zane Grey be classified as? Librarians trained in readers' advisory and collection development know the answers to these questions. If you are interested in learning more about readers' advisory and collection development services, and different types of genre, ALA's Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) has an online course, "Readers' Advisory 101," that is six-weeks long and includes book discussions with other students and the instructor. The registration fees are $130 for RUSA members; $160 for ALA members; $190 for non-ALA members; and $100 for students/retirees. For more information or to register, visit http://www.ala.org/ala/rusa/rusaevents/professionaldevelopmentonline/onlinereadersadvisory101course/readadv101ce.htm.

Youth Services and School Library News

PALS Workshop: Making the Match for School and Youth Services Librarians
"Making the Match: The Right Book for the Right Reader at the Right Time: Grades 4-12." This program will focus on books, old and new, and how to connect them to kids in the most effective way. Knowing the kids, knowing the books, and knowing the strategies for bringing the two together can help motivate ALL kids to want to read. The program will be held on Friday, Oct. 5th from 9:00-2:30 at the Mendota Civic Center. The cost is $30 which includes lunch. Please register in CLeO if you plan to attend. If you have questions, please contact Jane Lenser, x4461, janel@palsnet.info or Norma Applegate, x2705 normaa@palsnet.info.

National Storytelling Festival Trip
Greetings Librarians & Storytellers - Just an FYI that if you were thinking about joining us on a future trip to the National Storytelling Festival - your last opportunity to join us would be this year. McHenry County Storytelling Guild announces the 2007 trip as the FINAL trip. There are openings and you can make your reservations right now. Details on the attachment.

SKILLs Act for School Libraries
Your help is needed! ALL LIBRARIANS AND LIBRARY ADVOCATES – to ensure the inclusion of the Strengthening Kids’ Interest in Learning and Libraries (SKILLs) Act in the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). This is the single most important piece of legislation concerning school libraries that will come before Congress this year. Reauthorization of this bill is critical to the future of school libraries. See http://capwiz.com/ala/home for details.

On September 24, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor will be considering reauthorization of the NCLB. In order for the SKILLs Act to be included in NCLB – that is, to place a highly qualified school library media specialist in every school – each member of the House must co-sponsor the SKILLS Act. There is little more than two weeks to accomplish this goal and the name of your Representative must appear on this bill. If your Representative’s name does not appear as a co-sponsor, please call his/her office immediately and request that he/she support the SKILLs Act. If your Representative’s name DOES appear on this bill, contact his/her office and thank him/her for the continued support of school libraries and school library media specialists.
Sponsors: Raul Grijalva (AZ-7) Vernon Ehlers (MI-3)
Co-Sponsors: Bart Gordon (TN-6) Tim Holden (PA-17) Steve Cohen (TN-9) James McGovern (MA-3)

Public Library News

Public Libraries Are Sole Source of Online Employment and Education Information for Millions of Americans
Internet Use at Public Libraries Flourishes but Technical, Financial Support Lags
ALA, CHICAGO (excerpted) – Ever-growing patron demand for computer and Internet services in U.S. public libraries has stretched existing Internet bandwidth, computer availability, and building infrastructure to capacity, according to a new study “Libraries Connect Communities: Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study 2006-2007,” conducted by the American Library Association (ALA) and the Information Use Management and Policy Institute at Florida State University (FSU). The study, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and ALA, found that more than 73 percent of libraries report they are the only source of free public access to computers and the Internet in their communities. Surveyed libraries said that the top three Internet services most critical to their community are online educational resources and databases for K-12 students (67.7 percent); services for job seekers (44 percent); and computer and Internet skills training (29.8 percent).

A growing number of U.S. employers are recruiting online. Nearly three-quarters (70 percent) of the top 100 U.S. retailers accept online applications for hourly positions, up from 41 percent in 2004, and 16 percent only accept online applications, according to a 2006 study from Taleo Research, which analyzes best practices and economics of human resources management. Libraries offer a range of support to job seekers including assistance searching for jobs, technology training, writing résumés and cover letters, filling out online job applications, and establishing e-mail accounts so they can monitor the status of their applications.

Nearly 100 percent of public libraries offer free public access to the Internet. However, despite increased patron demand for technology services, libraries have not seen a corresponding increase in their budgets. As a result, many libraries are challenged to provide enough computers or fast-enough connection speeds to meet community need. In fact, more than 58 percent of libraries reported that they have no plans to add computers in the coming year; less than half (46 percent) plan to replace computers. Internet access speeds are inadequate for a majority of libraries (52 percent). Thousands of libraries across the country also have reached, or are nearing, their maximum capacity for space. Seventy-six percent of public libraries reported that space limitations are the top factor affecting their ability to add computers, while 31 percent of libraries report that the availability of electrical outlets, space for cabling and other infrastructure issues limited their capacity for technology infrastructure. “Millions of Americans rely on their public library to find jobs, further their education, learn English, get e-government information, and more,” said Allan Golston, president of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s U.S. Program. “Our nation must continue to support public libraries and ensure they are able to provide information and opportunities for all people.” The Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study collected data through surveys from more than 4,000 public libraries, more than 40 Chief Officers of State Library Agencies, and focus groups and site visits in Delaware, Maryland, Nevada and Utah. To view the final report, please visit www.ala.org/plinternetfunding.

ALA and FOLUSA Agreement
ALA, CHICAGO - Effective immediately, the American Library Association (ALA) and Friends of Libraries USA (FOLUSA), have agreed that FOLUSA will provide executive management for the Association of Library Trustees and Advocates (ALTA) for a period of 12-months ending August 31, 2008, with the expectation that FOLUSA and ALTA will seek to combine into an expanded division of the ALA on August 31, 2008. During the interim period, a team representing ALTA, FOLUSA and ALA leadership will engage in a series of discussions about increased scope and services of an expanded and more visible division. In his message to the FOLUSA Board of Directors, 2007-2008 FOLUSA President John Carson (Brodart Inc.) said, “the combination would bring the premier trustee organization and the premier friends organization together, so that the united voices of trustees, friends and other library supporters would be exponentially more powerful for libraries.” Don Roalkvam (Allstate Insurance Company), 2007-2008 ALTA president, also noted that an expanded array of products and services would help the enlarged division “move our combined vision of library advocacy forward with new membership and resources.” Sally Reed, executive director of FOLUSA, will provide administrative services for ALTA during the interim year, and will work with both the FOLUSA and ALTA Boards of Directors.

Academic Library News

ACRL Seeks Nominations for 2008 Awards Recognizing Outstanding Achievements in Academic Librarianship
ALA, CHICAGO - For more than three-quarters of a century, the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) has been committed to celebrating the achievements of academic and research librarians through the presentation of awards, grants and fellowships. With almost $34,000 donated annually by corporate sponsors, ACRL has and will continue to nominate, select and honor the very best in academic librarianship. Members are an integral part of ACRL’s successful awards program. ACRL urges members to nominate colleagues whose work has influenced their thinking and growth as an academic librarian and whose contributions merit recognition by the profession. Member nominations will ensure that the pool of candidates for each award remains both competitive and distinguished. Nominations and supporting materials for most awards must be submitted by December 7, 2007. More information, including submission procedures, past winners, criteria and contact information, is available in the awards section of the ACRL Web site at www.ala.org/acrl or by contacting ACRL Program Coordinator Megan Griffin at (312) 280-2514.

Special Library News
No Special Library News this week.

Support Staff News

Reaching Forward South 2007 Conference
This is a reminder that the Reaching Forward South 2007 conference is right around the corner. For information about the conference and registration click here. If you have further questions, please contact Dawn DiVenti, Library Services Coordinator.

Technology Services News
No Technology Services News this week.

E-Rate Corner

As we approach the October 28, 2007 deadline for invoicing your phone companies for recurring services, let’s go through some quick reminders: Please don’t wait until the last minute to prepare your BEAR form for 2006 (Yellow). You may need extra time to supply information to your service provider. SLC also gets backed up because so many libraries wait until the last minute. Your BEAR form can now be filed and certified on line if you have an E-cert ID and password. Make sure that you download the current BEAR form off the SLD website. Don’t use old forms! Only the April 2007 version of this form is acceptable. September 30, 2007 is generally the deadline for delivery and installation of non-recurring services. This can also be the extended deadline for services from other funding years. Extensions can be granted for non-recurring services. You can check the SLC website for a service delivery extension request. Please make sure that you have submitted your form 486 for year 2007 (pink). This deadline for most circumstances is October 28, 2007. SLC automatically sends out a reminder letter if you have failed to meet the 486 deadline. With all this being finished up you can breathe a sigh of relief and guess what? It’s time to start the process all over again. Beginning soon, we will begin to discuss the application process from start to finish.
For E-Rate questions contact Marilyn at the Rockford Service Center by phone at 815-229-4470 or email marilynj@palsnet.info

Library News Around the State & Nation

Showcase Your Services!
The Second Annual Diversity Fair, sponsored by DEMCO and the Illinois Library Systems Directors Organization, will be held on Thursday, October 11 from 2:00-3:30 during the Illinois Library Association 2007 Annual Conference in Springfield. The Diversity Fair is a chance for conference participants to learn about programs and initiatives around the state that address diverse user populations. Participants in the Fair will be provided with space for a poster or table-top display and will have the chance to interact with conference goers to explain more about their projects. To register for the event, please take a few moments to complete the brief submission form, which can be found here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=5VOXWvX1pjTPAS7l_2fFmuOg_3d_3d. If you have any questions, please contact Amanda McKay at amandamckay@lcls.org or 618-656-3216, ext. 143.

Brass D & B Public Librarian Support Award
The Dun & Bradstreet Public Librarian Support Award Committee is seeking nominees for this award to be presented at ALA 2008. The $1,000 award will support attendance at the Annual Conference for a public librarian who has performed outstanding business reference service and who requires financial assistance to attend the ALA Annual Conference.

For additional information, see the following: http://www.ala.org/ala/rusa/rusaourassoc/rusasections/brass/brassawards/awarddescription/dunbradstreet.htm
Applications are to be made in writing to the chair of this standing BRASS committee by December 1, 2007.
Chair: Nelly Somerman, nsomerman@stdl.org

NSL Secrecy Provisions Ruled Unconstitutional
ALA, Washington - A provision of the USA Patriot Act allowing the FBI to issue National Security Letters (NSLs) without court approval was deemed by a federal judge September 6 to violate the First Amendment. NSLs, which have been used to demand private information from libraries, telephone companies, internet service providers, and other data-gathering bodies, have been under scrutiny since a March internal FBI report detailing improper and illegal use by the Justice Department. Although Congress amended the NSL provision during last year’s Patriot Act reauthorization, Judge Victor Marrero of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled that the revision actually created additional constitutional problems, the New York Times reported September 7. In his 106-page ruling, Marrero wrote that NSL recipients remain “effectively barred from engaging in any discussion regarding their experiences and opinions relating to the government’s use” of the letters. The strains of persevering under such secrecy led to the high-profile lawsuit of the four librarians known as the “Connecticut John Does.” The current lawsuit was brought to federal court on behalf of an anonymous ISP by the American Civil Liberties Union, which asserted that the FBI’s ability to demand records without obtaining court orders violated the concept of checks and balances. “As this decision recognizes, courts have a constitutionally mandated role to play when national security policies infringe on First Amendment rights,” said Jameel Jaffer, director of ACLU’s National Security Project. “A statute that allows the FBI to silence people without meaningful judicial oversight is unconstitutional.” The American Library Association and the Freedom to Read Foundation prepared an amicus brief—written by attorney Theresa A. Chmara, a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of law firm Jenner and Block—in support of the lawsuit. Enforcement of the ruling is on hold for 90 days, to give the Justice Department an opportunity to appeal the decision, according to the September 7 Washington Post.

News from Vendors
No News from Vendors this week.

Legislative/Advocacy News

Librarian Participation in the State Budget Hearings
Hearings for the Illinois state budget are taking place at 19 locations around the state. A number of these are in the PALS area. ILA’s lobbyist, Kip Kolkmeier, stated that libraries must be represented so we don’t risk being left out. Even if you’re averse to speaking for a maximum of two minutes, please consider just showing up and signing a witness statement on behalf of libraries. If possible, please prepare a one page statement that you can leave with the legislators and with Speaker Madigan’s staff members who are expected to handle the registration table. 12 copies should do it to cover the legislators and staff. You could request the release of the member’s initiative funds if you’re one of the fortunate libraries to be included in this. Otherwise, you could address the long ago promised Per Capita of $1.25 which is expected to be $1.22 or less without the one million that was in the budget. The million is not new money or a new program, but merely delivering a promise that the State of Illinois made a dozen years ago. If you’re one of the libraries whose member initiative grant was cut, you can address the impact that this has on your library. A story to tell either way.

Hearings in the PALS area are scheduled for:
already held at: Kankakee @ Kankakee Community College on September 12, 6 pm
Rockford @ Zeke Giorgi Building on September 20, 6 pm
Joliet @ Joliet Township HS, September 24, 6 pm
Rock Island @ County Building, September 24, 6 pm
LaSalle County @ Illinois Valley Community College, 6 pm

Our representatives have indicated that the testimony and witness statements are crucial to putting on pressure to make the grants happen as well as to increase our chance of keeping the one million earmarked for Per Capita funding. This type of advocacy may not be your number one choice of activities, but this truly is a time when stepping forth can make a difference. Please keep in mind that it need not be the library director. A board member might be even more effective! Or you could request that another member of your staff be there on behalf of your library. Whoever attends the hearing may not be as important as having someone represent your library.

What to Expect at the State Budget Hearings
We hope that many of you, or a board or other staff member , appear at the state budget hearings if your library is in the district where hearings are held. Whether you intend to give oral testimony or just sign in as a witness, please try to prepare a handout to leave behind. The schedule forwarded by Bob Doyle earlier, in most cases, gives only one representative’s name. In speaking to some of our legislators, I’ve found that they are planning to attend even if their name is not listed. Using the past state budget hearings as an example, you should expect both the state senator as well as the two representatives in the district. If you’re in a populated area where two senators are in close proximity, you may well have both senators and a total of four representatives. I’d suggest a minimum of 12 handouts to leave behind. Give these to the legislators and Speaker Madigan’s staff who are likely to be the ones handling the registration table. If you’re among those fortunate enough to be listed for a representative’s grant, you may want to add a request that the governor release the funds. If your grant was among those cut, you may want to ask that the legislator’s initiative grant be restored. Add a personal story of what your library could accomplish with the funds. Perhaps you could add a part time staffer, buy a database or purchase new computers. Tell your library’s story. Who speaks for libraries if you don’t?

Member Initiative Grants
A number of our libraries are listed on our legislators’ member initiative grants. Representatives Tom Cross, Renee Kosel, Patricia Reid Lindner, Bob Pritchard and Dave Winters have all included libraries in their list of member initiative grants. Representatives Chuck Jefferson and Jim Sacia did so as well but their member initiative grants were cut by the governor. If your library is one of those fortunate enough to be included, the representatives have suggested that it would be beneficial to write to the governor requesting that he released the member imitative funds. Governor Rod Blagojevich Office of the Governor 207 State House Springfield, IL 62706 Please include a copy to Speaker Madigan as well as Senate President Emil Jones in addition to copies to your representative and senator. Contact Info can be found on CapWiz. If your grant was one of those cut, please write to all the above legislators requesting that it be restored with a brief description of what this meant to your library. No longer than one page please! The short time that it would take to write these letters could well be worth your time. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

ILA Conference in Springfield Offers Opportunity to See Your Legislators
Those attending the ILA conference in Springfield will have an unplanned opportunity to stop in and say hello to your legislators between the conference sessions. The veto session this year is scheduled for the first two weeks in October so the legislators will still be in town. You could take advantage of this opportunity to drop off your business card or some of your library material promoting activities and showcasing what you offer your community.

Grant News

NEH, ALA Public Programs Office Announce 3,000 “We the People” Bookshelf Grants on “Created Equal”
New collection includes titles and bonus materials to support Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial programming
ALA, CHICAGO – The American Library Association’s (ALA) Public Programs Office (PPO) is pleased to partner with the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) for the fifth “We the People” Bookshelf project. Part of the NEH's “We the People” initiative, the Bookshelf is a grant program created to encourage young people to read and understand great literature while exploring themes in American history. This year’s theme is “Created Equal.”

Public and school (K-12) libraries are invited to apply online from September 10, 2007 through January 25, 2008 at www.ala.org/wethepeople. In spring 2008, NEH and ALA will select 3,000 libraries to receive the “Created Equal” Bookshelf. Those selected will be required to use the Bookshelf selections in programs for young readers in their communities. “The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial is the perfect time to reflect on the proposition that ‘All men are created equal,’” said NEH Chairman Bruce Cole. “Understanding its full meaning and application has been the task of every generation since it was put forth as a self-evident truth by America’s Founders. The ‘We the People’ Bookshelf on Created Equal invites the young people today into the discussion.”

Successful applicants will receive the “We the People Bookshelf,” a collection of 17 classic hardcover books for young readers, all conveying the “Created Equal” theme. Several titles focus on the life and writings of Abraham Lincoln, whose 200th birthday will be celebrated during the 2008 – 2009 programming period. In addition, winning libraries will receive four of these books in Spanish translation, and a bonus educational kit entitled “History in a Box on Abraham Lincoln.” This kit, developed by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, contains a resource book (print and CD formats), DVDs, interactive CD-ROM and posters, featuring primary source documents, photographs, artwork, maps, songs and other teaching resources. Successful applicants will also receive accompanying materials for programming, including bookplates, bookmarks and posters. “The “Created Equal” Bookshelf provides a wonderful opportunity for libraries to enhance their collections, present local programs that tie-in to the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial and participate in a successful and far-reaching national initiative,” said ALA President Loriene Roy. “We are delighted that NEH sees libraries as a vital part of its ‘We the People’ initiative and continues to offer such extensive support for library programming.”

The “Created Equal” Bookshelf online application and guidelines will be available from September 10, 2007 to January 25, 2008 at www.ala.org/wethepeople or www.wethepeople.gov. A single application may be submitted on behalf of multiple libraries within a library system, school district or community. Individual branch and school libraries are also encouraged to apply. To review a list of programming ideas while planning an application, or to see information on past Bookshelf themes, please visit www.ala.org/wethepeople.

Don't Miss This Opportunity For Librarians! Carnegie-Whitney Awards up to $5000
The American Library Association Publishing Committee provides a grant of up to $5000 for the preparation of print or electronic reading lists, indexes, or other guides to library resources that promote reading or the use of library resources at any type of library. Funded projects have ranged from popular, general-reader proposals such as "ReadMOre," a reading list for Missouri's state-wide reading program, to more specialized, scholarly proposals such as "Librarianship and Information Science in the Islamic World, 1966-1999: An Annotated Bibliography." Applications must be received by November 5, 2007. Recipients will be notified by the end of February 2008. For more information and guidelines, visit www.ala.org/work/pubs/Carnegie.html or contact Mary Jo Bolduc, Grant Administrator, American Library Association, 50 E. Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611; Fax 312-280-5275; email: mbolduc@ala.org.

New Books at PALS

New book at CVSG:
101 sample write-ups for documenting employee performance problems : a guide to progressive discipline & termination.
Falcone, Paul. American Management Association, c1999.
Prof. Coll. 658.313 Fal.

Just So You Know
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