volume #4 issue#45

November 8, 2007

Prairie Views: the newsletter of the Prairie Area Library System

System News

New/Old Name!
PALS Senior Cataloger Mary Louise Brown reports:
I wish to announce that I have legally changed my name from Mary Louise Scherer to Mary Louise Brown. My adult sons wanted to change their last name to Brown, which is my maiden name, and I took that as the opportunity to change mine too. So, I am the same cataloger you've been working with in the past just with a new name.

PALS Day 2008 Announced
Mark your calendars now for PALS Day 2008 at Starved Rock Lodge and Conference Center on Wednesday, May 7, 2008. Our day will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m. Transportation details will be provided at a later date.
Registration is now available in CLeO, so please register at your earliest convenience. For additional information, please contact Dawn Diventi dawnd@palsnet.info or Nancy Smith nancys@palsnet.info, PALS Day 2008 Co-coordinators.
We look forward to spending a great day with you at Starved Rock!

PALS/UW-Madison Wisconsin MLS Open House
Are you ready to enroll in a program of graduate study leading to a Master's Degree in Library and Information Studies? PALS and the UW-Madison are in their third year of partnership to help librarians obtain an ALA-Accredited MLS. As we look forward to a 4th year, we are planning our annual Open House on Wednesday, December 5 from 5-7:30 p.m. This is a normal class night and all potential students are encouraged to attend at one of the three PALS service centers, Coal Valley, Rockford or Shorewood. This informational session will take place during a regularly scheduled class where you can meet the current students and faculty and see how a videoconference class is conducted. Attending this Open House does not mean you are committing to the program. Just bring your questions!

More information is available on the UW-Madison website. Contact Deb Shapiro at UW-M (608-262-9195), Jane Lenser at PALS (877-542-7257 x4461), or Sandy Ringstrom at PALS (877-542-7257 x2710) for further information about the Open House.

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

Member News

Holocaust Survivor Talks at Library
Tuesday, November 13 at 7:00pm on the first floor of the Kankakee Public Library to hear the story of Aaron Elster, Holocaust survivor.

Lights Out!
is a new book that chronicles the devastating economic and social effect of the 1980s recession on workers in the Quad Cities. Through academic research and personal interviews, Augustana College students and faculty explore the human impact of those times. The Center for Vocational Reflection at Augustana College will provide a free copy of the book to PALS libraries, but quantities are limited.
For more information and to sign up for your copy, visit http://www.augustana.edu/vocation/lightsout/

Synergy: A Personal Journey Toward a Stronger Profession
contributed by Lauren Siebert, Rockford Public Library
Now is the time of year when the Illinois State Library is accepting applications for the 2008 Illinois Library Leadership Conference known as Synergy. I want to encourage everyone to consider applying to this program. The experiences I had in this conference have changed my outlook, expectations and sense of my personal abilities. I believe they have made me a better professional, a stronger manager and a more complete individual.

As working people, most of us are familiar with words like “leadership,” “empowered,” “goal,” and “mentor.” As librarians, we use an additional set of power concepts, as well—“community,” “access,” “networks,” “democracy.” Like many of us, I never doubted that I understood and upheld these concepts. I marveled at the nobility of my profession and regarded myself as a defender of these ideals against all who would limit them. Like many people, when I experienced conflict, I was apt to see the cause of the difficulty as other people who didn’t have a librarian’s ethic, other people who didn’t believe in these notions as ardently as I did, other people who just weren’t “on board.”

Then I had an opportunity to attend Synergy. In doing so, I found the self-awareness, the skills and the support base to make a more realistic assessment of how well my actions matched my words. I began to understand the ways in which I had held myself back and contributed to group discontent by not always taking personal responsibility to improve things. After increasing our awareness of common faults like these, my fellow Synergists and I developed methods for mitigating them in ourselves. We found the courage to challenge our most difficult opponents—not the censor, not the anti-tax crusader, not the colleague who’s “afraid of change,” but ourselves.

When I talk about my participation in Synergy, people sometimes say that they have heard that the conference is only for people who are “up and comers” or “movers and shakers.” Many assume that a program like this is only for managers, directors, or would-be directors. They think Synergy is for other people, people different in some way from themselves. Well, I met some amazing people in my Synergy year, colleagues I have come to rely on and trust. But not one of us was a preordained “somebody” when we entered the conference. Nor did the experience make us into “movers and shakers.” What it did do was take ordinary working professionals and instill in us an understanding of our group power and our personal responsibility to improve our workplaces, our profession and ourselves. We excavated our own talents and built an appreciation for the talents of others. We laughed, we fought, we cringed and cried. We tested ourselves to not accept substitutes, especially those that come from within. The experiences I had at Synergy altered my perspective on the world. At times, it may have seemed that progress was slow, but the benefits are palpable. I cannot recommend this conference highly enough. You will make lifelong friendships and lasting changes to your outlook. Please consider applying to this excellent program today.

Visit the Synergy website to apply. Application deadline for Synergy 2008 is November 30, 2007.

Missing Books - 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.

CD CD 782.643 Hoo - Chill out by John Lee Hooker music sent to SPBB
J FIC WAR - The boxcar children by Gertrude Warner in transit to CCCG from BYLY
AUDIO BRO - The Da Vinci Code (book on CD) in transit to SYLY from BYLY
jAUDIO DOW - Chicken Boy (book on CD) by Frances Dowell in transit to HHSY from BYLY
AUDIO WOO - Grass Roots by Stuart Woods – book on CD – sent to Bettendorf Public (BPLG)
332.6322 MLA - Stock investing for dummies by Paul Mladjenovic in transit to DKLY from JPBB
CD RAP BAR - St. Elsewhere [sound recording] by Gnarls Barkley. in transit to DKLY from SELG
CHILD LIT PR6068.O93 Har 1998 Harry Potter and the sorcerer's stone by J.K. Rowling in transit to DKLY from SAUG
FDVD 676 TV - House M.D. Season one, created by David Shore in transit to DKLY from FPLY
641.4 WAR - Canning & preserving for dummies by Karen Ward in transit to DKLY from RIPG
DVD PSY3-R - Psycho III [videorecording] / Universal Pictures ; produced by Hilton A. Green in transit to DKLY from RVLG
V SAR - Sarah plain and tall videorecording in transit to DKLY from MPLY

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.

Microfiche Reader
Hinckley PL has a microfiche reader to give away. It was given to them and was told that it worked but they have never used it. Free to anyone who can arrange to pick it up by Dec. 15th.

If interested contact:
Shirley
Hinckley Public Library District
Email: director@hinckley.lib.il.us
Phone: 815.286.3220

To give away:
* Career Discovery Encyclopedia 1993 and 1997
* Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance 2000 and 1997

If interested contact:
Gaye Abrahams
Phone: 815-445-4004

PALS
Giveaways

If interested contact:
Brenda Roman
Email: brendar@palsnet.info

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.

Due to an IMRF Early Retirement Incentive program, Fountaindale Public Library District has a number of positions opening up. We serve the diverse communities of Bolingbrook and Romeoville. For more information, check out our web site at www.fountaindale.lib.il.us

Library Director
Geneseo Public Library District, Geneseo, Illinois, seeks enthusiastic leader with experience in a building project. Must have and exhibit prior success working w/personnel, community leaders and a Board of (7) elected Trustees. Experience managing a library, public relations, fundraising, public speaking, short and long term planning vision for the library and excellent verbal and written skills.
* The position requires a minimum of 5 years of public library administration and/or MLS from an ALA accredited library school program.
* Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. Residency required.
* Excellent benefits package included. Position open March 1, 2008; current library director is retiring. The library has an annual budget of $507,260, staff of 1 full-time employee, 17 part-time employees and an annual circulation of 145,928. The library district serves 13,102 residents including the City of Geneseo.
Visit the library's website at http://www.geneseo.lib.il.us

Please send resume and three references to:
Geneseo Public Library
ATTN:Mr. Don Bailey
218 South State Street
Geneseo, Illinois, 61254
before November 30, 2007.

Technician II
Scott Community College Library
Technician II 25 hrs/wk
* Minimum Qualifications: High school diploma or equivalent required. Some college preferred. Previous library experience including use of automated library systems. Good organizational and interpersonal skills with knowledge of computer applications and computer maintenance. Must be detail oriented and committed to quality service.
* Typical Duties and Responsibilities: Assists in all of the circulation process (checkout, past due notices, flagging and clearing of student records, and collecting fines) to maintain and protect the library collection. Assists in providing reference services to the college community, including automated retrieval services and basic print and computerized reference services. Answers questions regarding the use of library facilities and interprets and enforces library policies. Manages periodical sections including maintaining periodical circulation cards, processing new magazines, and supervising shelving of periodicals. Serves as a member of the SCC Library Marketing Focus Group. Designs marketing pieces for SCC Library including READ posters. Works with district staff to develop and maintain the SCC Library website. Develops displays for the Library. Assists in gathering, maintaining, and compiling statistics, as needed for library planning and reporting. Assists in receiving money from fines, copier deposits and fees and in making deposits of copier and fine monies. Shares responsibility for the proper functioning of all library equipment. Is committed to providing quality service that meets or exceeds the expectations of internal and external customers. Performs other duties as assigned.
* Salary: $11.65/hr Class 5

Direct Responses and Inquiries to:
Human Resources Department
Eastern Iowa Community College District
306 West River Drive
Davenport, IA 52801-1221.
Deadline for Application: November 16, 2007

Circulation Manager
Fountaindale Public Library District, which proudly serves the diverse communities of Bolingbrook and Romeoville, Illinois, is seeking an experienced, public service-oriented manager to lead the circulation, bookmobile, homebound services, and security staff in both of our libraries in the development and delivery of services which satisfy the needs of all library patrons. District voters will decide on a new library building referendum in Feb. 2008, so planning ability is a plus.
* This full-time position includes evening and weekend hours. Fountaindale Public Library District serves a population of 71,474, and circulated 827,000 items in 2006-07.
* A master’s degree from an ALA-accredited library school, plus six year’s supervisory experience in a library required.
* Starting salary: $48,446 per year
* Closing date: until position is filled.

Send cover letter, resume, and three professional references to:
Marianne Thompson
Assistant Director for Public Services
Fountaindale Public Library District
300 W. Briarcliff Road
Bolingbrook, IL 60440
Email: personnel@fountaindale.lib.il.us
Equal Opportunity Employer

Children's Programmer
Geneseo Public Library District, which serves a population of 13,102 resident is opening a search for a Children's Programmer.
* Job requirements listed are a must: education or experience in executing programs specifically geared for children including storytelling and crafting; coordinate programs in conjunction with other community groups which feature children's activities; excellent interpersonal skills, rapport with children, previous library and computer skills.
* Hours, 15 - 20/wk, would include some evenings, and occasional Saturdays.
* Benefit package; wage depends on experience and qualifications. Start date in December.

Contact by sending resume to:
Brenda I. Fowler
Director
218 South State Street
Geneseo, Illinois 61254

High School Library Aide
Riverdale CUSD
*Qualifications: Appropriate Education, College Credits Preferred, Basic Computer knowledge and Library Knowledge, Paraprofessional Certifications.
*Salary: $9.47/hr., Plus benefits.

If interested contact:
Mr. James Boyd
Principal
Riverdale High School
9622 256th Street North
Port Byron, IL 61275

Library Assistant
(2 Positions) - Poplar Grove & Manchester Elementary Schools
*Description: Responsible for operation of a school library & inventorying books, checking out books, etc. Responsible for audio-visual equipment Knowledgeable about resource materials in library Coordinates computer laboratory
* Certification: Certified by ISBE as an aide (or teacher) Library experience preferred not required Computer skills required
* Status: Full Time Elementary – 7hr day – 8:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. or as established by Principal
* Benefits: One sick day per month of employment (10)
* Personal Days: Four equivalent workdays Paid Legal Holidays Health and term life insurance paid by District for employees Optional family insurance at employee expense.

Your questions and application should be directed to:
North Boone Community Unit School District 200
Website at http://www.nbcusd.org
Qualified Candidates, please apply on line at http://www.nbcusd.org.
Closing Date: November 20, 2007

Reference and ILL News

Novelist/Novelist K-8 Update
If you have subscribed to NOVELIST/NOVELIST K-8 and have yet to receive information on how to connect to the resource, contact EBSCO's Electronic Resource Representative, Heidi van Gennep at hvangennep@epnet.com or 800-653-2726 ext. 2244. She will be able to assist with this matter. If you have questions concerning this offer, you may also reach Gwen Harrison at gharrison@ilsos.net.

E-R-XPO Vendors Announced
ILLINET member academic, public, school and special library staff are invited to attend the free Illinois State Library Electronic Resource Expo (E-R-XPO) on Thursday, December 13, 2007 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Schaumburg Township District Library, located at 130 South Roselle Road in Schaumburg, Illinois. Sponsored by the Illinois State Library and the Schaumburg Township District Library, the E-R-XPO will showcase electronic resource products and feature Try-It! Illinois 2007 participating vendors.

* One-on-one contact with product representatives and focus sessions will be offered.
* Electronic resource representatives will highlight various databases applicable to all types of libraries (academic, public, school and special).
* There is no charge to attend the E-R-XPO.

The following vendors will be present: Gale, Encyclopedia Britannica, Alexander Street Press, Rosen Publishing, H.W. Wilson, ProQuest, Morningstar Inc., CQ Press, Inc., EBSCO, Public Records, World Book and Standard & Poor's.

School librarians are encouraged to bring their principals and/or superintendents. Public library trustees are also invited to attend. Boxed lunches will be available for purchase. To reserve your boxed lunch, contact Kris Kenney at kkenney@stdl.org or 847-923-3328. Payment for lunch must be made the day of the event. To register please log on to: http://www.islcleo.org. For more information, contact Gwen Harrison at 800-665-5576 (press 1 then select extension 1) OR 217-785-7334 OR gharrison@ilsos.net.

Youth Services and School Library News
No Youth Services and School Library News this week.

Public Library News
No Public Library News this week.

Academic Library News

IACRL 2008 Spring Conference
"Librarians as Leaders: Energizing Our Communities" Bloomington, Illinois March 27-28, 2008
The IACRL 2008 Spring Conference Planning Committee invites you to share your practical solutions, creative approaches, and philosophical observations that will inspire academic librarians in Illinois to provide leadership and energetically engage their communities. Presentations may highlight formal or informal opportunities for leadership in any part of the library (e.g., technical services, technology, instruction, administration).
The submission deadline is December 10, 2007. The Planning Committee will review proposals and notify presenters by January 21, 2008. * Presentations may take the form of contributed papers, demonstrations, panel discussions, or posters.
* Program sessions are scheduled for one hour, including at least 10 minutes for questions from the audience.
* Visit the IACRL website (http://iacrl.net/) for more information about the conference.
Please include the following information when submitting your proposal:
Title:
Format (paper, demonstration, panel discussion, poster):
Description (approx. 100 words):
Presenters:
Name, Address, City/State, Phone, FAX, Email:
Please e-mail your program proposal (and direct any questions) to: Sarah George Wessel, Illinois Wesleyan University, email: sgeorge@iwu.edu

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.

E-Rate Corner

Let’s review some important dates for the upcoming FY 2008 E-Rate filing season.
November 7, 2007 – The FY2008 Form 471 filing window opens at noon ET and will remain open for 93 days. It will close at 11:59 PM ET on Thursday, February 7, 2008
January 10, 2008 - The last possible date to post a Form 470 on the USAC website to meet the 28-day posting requirement for the competitive bidding process, and submit a complete Form 471 by the filing window closing date. §
* If you submit your Form 470 online, it is posted immediately. §
* If you submit your Form 470 on paper, USAC will make every effort to post it by January 10 if it is received on or before Thursday, January 3, 2008. Remember that you can file a 470 form at any time.
Send you E-Rate question to Marilyn at PALS – Rockford at 815-229-4470 or email marilynj@palsnet.info

Library News Around the State & Nation

New Delivery Service Website
The new Illinois Library Delivery Service (ILDS) will begin on January 2, 2008. A terrific website has been established with answers to questions you might have about the new ILDS. Log on to www.illinoisdelivers.net.

The Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center is NOT just an audio library for the blind; there’s more to us than meets the ear!
The Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center (MITBC) offers a wide variety of services to a diverse population of patrons. Along with serving the print impaired, MITBC loans audio books and cassette players to students with learning challenges, as well as, schools interested in taking advantage of this free educational tool.

*Audio Books Provide Help for Dyslexic Students: The Illinois Chapter of the International Dyslexia Association estimates that in a standard class of 30 students, 6 will have dyslexia. Audio books allow struggling readers to enjoy the same popular books as their peers while at the same time improving critical listening and reading comprehension skills.

*MITBC offers a Wide Selection of Materials: For teachers finding resources may be troublesome. With more than 72,000 titles to choose, teachers have access to popular audio books students want to read, at absolutely no cost. Our collection includes leisure reading, magazines, many commonly assigned books such as classics and Newbury award winners, as well as non-fiction needed for research and reports.

* Don’t Miss Out! Free Service for Students and Schools: Educators can enroll their school and receive a talking book machine and audio books that can be used in the classrooms. Students may also sign up as an individual so that they may receive a talking book machine and cassette books for their home, absolutely free of charge. In the case of a student, all applications must be signed by a certifying authority for learning disabilities that means applications must be signed by a doctor. Interested in receiving talking books for your classroom? Visit http://www.mitbc.org or call 1-800-426-0709.

ALSC Announces Bound to Stay Bound Books and Melcher Scholarships for 2008
(CHICAGO, ALA) The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has announced that applications are now being accepted for the 2008 Frederic G. Melcher and Bound to Stay Bound Books Scholarships. Four Bound to Stay Bound Books scholarships at $6,500 each will be awarded. Two Frederic G. Melcher scholarships at $6,000 each will also be awarded. The scholarships are given annually to students who plan to enter an ALA-accredited program, obtain a master's degree in library science and specialize in library service to children. Applicants must be United States or Canadian citizens. Recipients are expected to become members of ALA and ALSC and are required to accept a position in the field of library service to children for at least one year following graduation. Applications are available on the ALA Web site at http://www.ala.org by clicking on “Awards and Scholarships.” The deadline for receipt of applications is March 1, 2008. A committee of five ALSC members will review applications. Winners will be notified by June 1.

New ILLINET/OCLC Members Council Representative
Ted Schwitzner, Head of the Bibliographic Services Division at Milner Library at Illinois State University, has been newly elected to the ILLINET/OCLC Members Council. Ted will be replacing Jay Starratt, who is leaving Illinois to become the new Dean of Washington State University Libraries. Ted's appointment will start immediately and end May 31, 2010. Additionally, Mary Konkel, Head of Technical Services, College of DuPage has been named as an alternate delegate to ILLINET/OCLC Members Council during this current term.

News from Vendors
No News from Vendors this week.

Legislative/Advocacy News
No Legislative/Advocacy News this week.

Grant News
No Grant News this week.

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

Just So You Know

Kudos
Lisa Guidarini, a first-year student in the PALS/University of Wisconsin-Madison MLS program, published an interview she conducted via email with author Amy Cohen in the September/October Public Libraries, which is the journal of the ALA division, PLA, the Public Library Association. Amy Cohen's most recent book is The Late Bloomer's Revolution : a Memoir. Congrats, Lisa!

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.