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June 2004 |
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THREE WITH THEIR OWN LISTS – this month’s observations include three articles (with lists) that I noticed and adapted from various issues of Library Connections – the newsletter of the Eastern Shores Library System http://www.esls.lib.wi.us/
"Help! Help!" she cried. "What do I do with
weeded or unwanted gift materials?"
Over the years I’ve read a number of articles
about the importance of weeding, of keeping our collections fresh, of making
room on the shelves, etc. Recently I came across some good suggestions for what
to do with the discarded materials, i.e., those materials that are left after a
library’s book sale or after trying to sell special items via eBay or other
similar sites.
Working with your staff, Friends group, etc., develop a list of community contacts that could use your discards…
:Examples
- families in need can always use adult and juvenile reading materials
- literacy councils can often use materials for their ‘resources’ library
- places that hire seasonal workers can make use of reading materials
- correctional facilities might be willing to send someone over to go through your discards to select materials they could use for their inmates and for use in their visitors’ center
- day care providers might welcome a chance to help themselves to your children’s discards
- home-schooling families could possibly make use of your materials
Once you have developed your list of contacts with special interests, establish some rules (bring your own boxes, park here/not there, furnish your own muscle power, choose three consecutive days, etc), set hours of operation and send invitations to those on your list.
At the end of the event, invite the general
public or neighboring libraries to come and take whatever is left for their own
collections or book sales.
(Adapted from an article by Connie Meyer in the
July/August 2003 issue of Library Connections)
Focus on Services to Seniors
At the last Library Advisory Committee
meeting, a decision was made that WVLS should submit a LSTA grant proposal to
work with our senior population. The grant isn’t written yet but when I came
across these ideas for improving the area where large print books are shelved, I
thought they should be shared…
- Try not to use the top and bottom shelves for your large print collection – it’s difficult to see titles on those levels with bi/tri-focals AND aging joints don’t work as well as they used to.
- Try to locate the large print collection fairly close to the main library entrance – seniors often have difficulty walking long distances.
- Provide good lighting by these collections.
- Shelve other large print titles such as Reader’s Digest and New York Times with the books.
- Use as much face-forward marketing as possible – reading spines can be a problem for those with limited vision.
- Straight-backed wooden chairs will be more welcome than upholstered chairs in this area and a small table to set books on while browsing would be appreciated.
- If your library offers home delivery or has a collection of audio books, display signs for those services in the large print collection area.
- If you have space, include an information center for seniors, with brochures from agencies that serve seniors.
- If your community has free newspapers for seniors, request multiple copies and encourage seniors to take them.
- Print fliers and brochures in at least 14-16 point type with a clear, simple font.
50 Ways to Use Your Library Card
Libraries aren’t what they used to be.
They’re better. Here are 20 of the 50 ways libraries can enrich your life…
- 2. Learn how to lower your taxes.
- 3. Reserve a book.
- 4. Trace a friend in an out-of-state telephone book.
- 5. Prepare for your job interview.
- 6. Pick up a book on cassette and listen to it in your car as you drive home.
- 7. Read a large-type book without wearing your glasses.
- 14. Find out about library service to homebound individuals.
- 22. Find out where to send a consumer complaint.
- 23. Learn how to clean ink stains from a marble counter.
- 29. Check the financial standing of your bank or S&L.
- 30. Borrow a set of audiocassettes that teach you how to speak French.
- 35. Join others for a "Brown-bag Lunch" and hear a stimulating speaker.
- 36. Volunteer as a literacy tutor.
- 39. Ask for information about how to start a business.
- 40. Get tax forms and tax filing information.
- 41. Get a list of materials that help gain reading skills.
- 43. Get an inter-library loan from a library in another city – it’s done quickly by computer.
- 44. Enroll your child in your library’s Summer Reading Program.
- 46. Ask a staff member to give a talk to your service organization.
- 48.Check out a video on boating safety.
--Heather Eldred
TROJANOWSKI
IS NEW DIRECTOR AT NORTHERN WATERS LIBRARY SERVICE
Congratulations to the Northern Waters Library
Service Board of Trustees and to newly appointed system director, Jim
Trojanowski. According to the announcement from Northern Waters, "Jim
Trojanowski, currently the Director of the Vaughn Public Library in Ashland, has
accepted the position and joins us officially on July 12, 2004. Jim has a strong
background in library administration and has demonstrated leadership at the
state level. We welcome Jim to his new role at NWLS and look forward to working
with him."
FEINGOLD
HONORED BY FRIENDS OF LIBRARIES U.S.A.
Friends of Libraries U.S.A. (FOLUSA)
presented its 2004 Public Service Award to Representative Bernard Sanders (D-VT)
and Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI). This commendation, which recognizes
outstanding support for libraries by national leaders, was presented during
Library Legislative Day on Tuesday, May 4, during the American Library
Association Washington Office’s reception following the day’s activities.
Senator Russ Feingold introduced legislation to protect personal information last summer. "The American people want the FBI to be focused on preventing terrorism," Feingold said. "It makes sense to make some changes to the law to allow the FBI access to the information that it needs to prevent terrorism. But as more and more Americans are realizing, we do not need to change the values that constitute who we are as a nation in order to protect ourselves from terrorism. We can protect both our nation and our privacy and civil liberties."
Both Feingold and Sanders are being honored for
their work to protect the confidentiality of library records put at risk in the
USA Patriot Act.
(Channel Weekly, 6/10/04)
BUILDING
CHILDREN'S SELF-ESTEEM
Based on research conducted since 1958, Search
Institute has identified 40 developmental assets that all young people need to
grow up to be healthy, principled and caring adults. The more assets a young
person has developed, the more likely they are to make positive choices.
Conversely, the fewer assets a young person has developed, the more likely they
are to become involved in risk-taking behaviors. It has been found nationwide
that most students have fewer than half of these 40 assets.
The list of 40 developmental assets as well as tips for focusing on each one is too long to include in its entirety here, but may be requested from Beth Sillars at the WVLS office (715/261-7255 or sillars@wvls.lib.wi.us). Following is the featured asset for June:
SELF ESTEEM – Asset #38
Kids who have this asset feel good about
themselves.
Build self esteem by celebrating each child’s uniqueness. Affirm them for who they are and help them know that they are valued and loved. Encourage them to keep a journal or scrapbook of their special skills, accomplishments and growth. Empower them by teaching them how to make choices and decisions and by accepting responsibility for the outcomes. When they make mistakes or bad choices, separate the deed from the do-er. The choice is bad, not the child. Tell them often that you love them and that you are glad they are yours.
A CLUTTER OF SPIDER-MAN 2 BOOKS
Spider-Man 2 hits the movie theaters on July 2 and you can bet that any Spider-Man books you own won’t sit on the shelf at all. Here’s some new titles from the BWI eNewsletter:
(From Rob Reid’s Heart of a Child, 6/17/04)
E-RATE:
UPDATE ON 2004 FUNDING AND CIPA COMPLIANCE
Starting July 1, 2004
public libraries must comply with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA)
if they will be using E-rate funds for internal networks or to pay for Internet
access. Nationwide, there was a 25% decrease in the funds requested for Internet
access in 2004. It is assumed that much of this decrease is from libraries
deciding not to take E-rate funds to avoid the need to use Internet filters. In
Wisconsin there has been a very large decline in libraries requesting E-rate
discounts for Internet access. After addressing various issues, like the cost of
filtering software and First Amendment concerns, many libraries decided that
mandatory Internet filtering was not worth the E-rate funds and thus they did
not apply.
More information on the E-rate program is on the DPI’s
E-rate Website at: http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dltcl/pld/erate.html
(Channel Weekly, 6/10/04)
Effective June 15, 2004 -
NETLIBRARY
SITE ENHANCEMENTS
Search
Page Results
Session Timeout Warning Message
Each time a user is authenticated to
the netLibrary site, our system begins a new session. After fifteen minutes of
inactivity, the session will timeout, and the user would have to log in again to
continue their use of selected eBooks and various personalization functions.
NetLibrary's new session warning will provide a warning message two minutes
prior to session timeout, alerting users that their session will be terminated
unless they click on the Continue Session button.
Online Reader Enhancements
NetLibrary has updated the Online
Reader with scrolling Table of Contents functionality that will automatically
track the user's progress through the eBook and map to the current chapter or
entry. Table of Contents will not only scroll to the active chapter, but will
auto-expand to display the relevant entry headings within a chapter.
ALSO NEW FROM
NETLIBRARY
NetLibrary has launched a new eBook
of the Month campaign that features contemporary bestsellers. A new title will
be selected each month. The eBook is then available to customers of libraries
who participate in the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC). Because of
the WVLS membership in WPLC, the eBook of the month will be available to all
residents in the system area.
The June selection is The Recurrent Crisis in Corporate Governance by Paul W. MacAvoy and Ira M. Millstein. The book has a 2003 copyright date. Customers can search and/or read the book online, as well as link to author interviews and reading guides, publisher and author web sites. The netLibrary web site also contains bookmarks and web banners and buttons to help promote this new service to library customers.
STATE OF
THE ART LIBRARY CARD
Brooklyn Public Library (BPL)
recently launched the Access Brooklyn Card (ABC card), a new multifunction
library and debit card. This new card uses the latest technology to make it easy
to connect with BPL’s 60 libraries and extensive online resources with one
access card. The ABC card also helps the library implement better business
practices by establishing a cost recovery system for expenses related to
printing at its over 850 public access computers.
With the introduction of the ABC card, BPL is also launching an automated computer reservation and print system that will provide library users with a quick and simple way to reserve a computer and print unlimited pages for a small fee. Cardholders will be able to reserve computer time in advance, print from the Internet or offline (for 15 cents per black-and-white page, $1 for color, where available), check out books and materials, and pay library fines and fees.
According to Ginnie Cooper, Brooklyn Public
Library executive director, "It’s convenient for library users and the
automated computer reservation and print program will reduce equipment
maintenance, paper waste and paper costs, as well as free library staff to spend
more time addressing library users’ reference inquiries. With this one card,
we make life easier for everyone so that the library can continue to focus on
providing high-quality services and programs."
AN EASY WAY FOR FRIENDS TO RAISE MONEY
Libraries are invited to sell their better books, such as donations, duplicate copies, monographs or surplus titles, on the web via the Library Book Sales Project (http://www.librarybooksales.org/). The sale of ex-libris books is discouraged since most serious book buyers don’t want to own books that look like they were permanently borrowed from their local library. The Library Book Sales Project is a "win-win," since libraries raise much needed funds and book buyers get great books at great prices.
Any kind of library – public, private, institutional, education, special – may sign up to use the Library Book Sales Project (nine libraries in Wisconsin are currently signed up). Once member libraries log in, they have access to many features, including: tips on how to evaluate, price and sell out-of-print and rare books; a chat room; an events calendar; a newsletter; book definitions; and much more.
If you are a member of a library support or
Friends group, you might want to take a few moments to sign up. You may be
impressed.
(edited from article in Steppingstones,
newsletter of Southwest Wisconsin Library System, 5/04)
BRING AN AUTHOR OR ILLUSTRATOR TO YOUR LIBRARY
Wisconsin Authors and Illustrators Speak 2004, a program of the Wisconsin Center for the Book, will help communities sponsor appearances by authors and illustrators. Any group may apply for a $250 grant for this purpose. Community groups are strongly encouraged to collaborate while planning the event, which must be scheduled between October 1, 2004 and April 30, 2005. Admission fees are not permitted and honoraria will be paid directly to the speakers involved.
The deadline for submitting a grant proposal is August 2,
2004. Applications are available online at www.wisconsinacademy.org/book
or by contacting Jane Roeber at jroeber@wisc.edu
Scholarship Available from Wisconsin Small Libraries Roundtable
The purpose of the Wisconsin Small Libraries Roundtable (WISLR) scholarship is to promote attendance at the Wisconsin Library Association Annual Conference and the Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries Annual Conference. It is available to librarians who are employed in a library or information agency in Wisconsin and members of WISLR, and who are able to communicate what they learned at a conference to fellow WISLR members.
A scholarship recipient is expected to attend the entire conference for which the scholarship was awarded, submit newsletter article to Whistlestop, the WISLR newsletter, sharing what was learned at the conference, and attend WISLR meetings while at the conference.
The scholarship may be up to $300 to cover conference
lodging, registration and meal expenses, and mileage. Applications must be
postmarked by August 13, 2004, and submitted to: Mary E. Dunn, WISLR
Chair-Elect; Tomahawk Public Library; 300 West Lincoln Avenue; Tomahawk, WI
54487. Copies of the application form are available from the WVLS office.
Check these out:
- A dime has 118 ridges around the edge.
- A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.
- A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.
- A "jiffy" is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.
- A snail can sleep for three years.
- An almond is a member of the peach family.
- If the population of China walked past you, in single file, the line would never end because of the rate of reproduction.
- Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite.
- The sentence "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" uses every letter of the alphabet.
- There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.
- Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
- Your stomach has to produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks; otherwise it will digest itself.
Woodworker's Central [QuickTime]
http://www.woodworking.org
Wood-working is both a time-honored vocation and pastime for
thousands of people, and Woodworker's Central website is designed to provide a
source of online information on a wide array of subjects related to this
activity. First started in 1997, the site currently contains forums where fellow
woodworkers can share reviews of tools (contained in the Tool Survey section),
search for articles on woodworking plans, and read the Woodworker's Gazette,
which contains reviews of woodworking books and helpful hints submitted by
visitors to the site. The site also contains a section on compound miters and an
InfoExchange area where visitors can exchange questions and responses to a host
of probing questions, such as how to build a stereo rack out of maple or how to
construct a bowl out of bark. [KMG]
(From The Scout Report, Copyright
Internet Scout Project 1994-2003; http://scout.wisc.edu/
; 6/11/04)
Discover New Trails @ LII
http://lii.org/search/trails
This collection of Web sites from
Librarians’ Index to the Internet "trails along" with the 2004
Summer Reading Program, Discover New Trails @ Your Library. Hike across the Web
to see great sites related to the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial, exploration,
discovery, different types of trails, people who are "trailblazers,"
travel, and more.
(pubyac listserv, 6/1/04)
Wisconsin Berry Growers Association Home Page
http://www.wiberries.org/
Includes all you need to know about where
and when to pick berries in Wisconsin, handling and freezing tips, recipes, and
links to additional sites on berries.
Old Car Manual Project http://www.tocmp.com/
The Old Car Manual Project is a library:
a central place where anyone can come to get the information they need. How this
happens is by volunteers scanning their hard-to-find documents into a digital
format, so that everyone can have access to the information in them. There are
already a significant number of manuals, brochures, and wiring diagrams here,
going back as far as 1911. The site is slow-loading, though.
(Neat New Stuff I Found This Week, http://marylaine.com/neatnew.html
Copyright, Marylaine Block, 1999-2004, 6/10/04)
Recall Warnings http://www.recall-warnings.com/
This Website by Nolo Press provides Free Recall Warnings and Alerts, Consumer
Product Recalls, Baby Product Recalls, Food Recalls, Car and Auto Recalls, Drug
Recalls, and Tire Recalls.
(Refdesk site-of-the-day; listmail@refdesk.com
; 6/8/04)
970P Oceans, Seas & Rivers Kit
For
more information on this kit visit the
WVLS AV & Programming Materials Page
June 24 – June 30 – American Library Association Annual Conference – Orlando, Florida – http://www.ala.org/Content/ContentGroups/Events_and_Conferences2/Annual/AN2004/home.htm
July 6 – Take Your Webmaster/Webmistress/Head Spider to Lunch Day
July 15 – WVLS Board of Trustees meeting – Marathon County Public Library – 9:30 a.m.
July 27-28 – WiLSWorld – Pyle Center, Madison. The theme is "The Virtual Chase: In Hot Pursuit of Electronic Solutions." Complete information may be found at www.wils.wisc.edu/events/wworld04.
July 31 – Harry Potter’s Birthday
August – National Watermelon Month – http://www.watermelon.org/index.asp
August 5 – WVLS V-Cat Council meeting – T.B. Scott Library, Merrill – 9:30 a.m.
August 14 – 17th Wisconsin Storytellers’ Get-Together – Mount Morris Camp and Conference Center, Wautoma, WI - This is a terrific event for those of you who are involved in storytelling programs for any age group – from preschoolers to young adults, and beyond! Complete event details (including ride-sharing and room-sharing information) are available online at http://get-together.wistory.org.
August 16 – WVLS Library Advisory Committee meeting – T.B. Scott Library, Merrill – 9:30 a.m.
August 19 – WVLS Executive Committee meeting – Marathon County Public Library – 9:30 a.m.
August 31 – Digitization Workshop – a WVLS workshop – Marathon County Public Library – more details forthcoming.
September – Library Card Sign-Up Month
October 16 – Workshop for Friends Groups – Rhinelander District Library – more details forthcoming.
|
"My guess is about 300 years until computers are as good as, say, your local reference library in doing search[es]. But we can make slow and steady progress, and maybe one day we’ll get there." --Craig Silverstein, Google Director of Technology, on CBS Sunday Morning, 3/28/04 (Library Journal, 6/1/04) |
ATTENTION: WESSLER SCHOLARSHIPS are available to cover some/all costs associated with attendance at reference and/or interlibrary loan continuing education events. If interested in becoming a Wessler Scholar, contact the WVLS office (715/261-7250) for more information. The application form and more information are available at http://wvls.lib.wi.us/About/wessler.htm
is a monthly newsletter of the Wisconsin
Valley Library Service.
300 N. First
Street / Wausau, WI 54403
Contributions are welcome!
Back issues are available at http://wvls.lib.wi.us/Newsletter/newsindex.htm
(Note: Web links in past issues are not checked for currency and may no
longer work.)
| EDITOR: Marla Sepnafski Phone: 715/261-7252 FAX: 715/261-7259 |
Contributions are welcome!
News items should be submitted by the first of the month.
WVLS serves Clark, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida, and Taylor counties.
When the most recent issue becomes available, readers are alerted by a notice
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