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June
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"Libraries – those
temples of learning, those granite-and-marble monuments –
do not appear to most people as places of passion or
even vital activity.
Local newspapers don’t cover the library beat as ardently as they do city
hall;
protests don’t usually erupt for television cameras on the library steps; the
mayor
doesn’t invite visiting celebrities to be feted and photographed in the Main
Reading Room. For most Americans, the library is a reassuring and stable
presence, there when they need it, and until then, to be comfortably taken for
granted."
(from Reading Rooms, edited by Susan Allen Toth and John Coughlan,
Doubleday © 1991)
It’s difficult to get adequate and on-going financial and physical support for things/people/services/etc. that are taken for granted – things like libraries - until those things are threatened or disappear altogether. Often, when the loss of something is threatened, some people will realize that their lives would be much different, much poorer, without that thing/person/service. With that recognition, comes the power to shake off the lethargy…to stand up and say (right out loud even), "Hey, that’s too important to lose because……" Often all it takes to call decision-makers to their senses or to claim their better natures is for someone to point out the obvious. We all learned this lesson as children when we read that the "Emperor Has No Clothes".
Because enough of you cared – and stood up and said so, Wisconsin’s Committee on Joint Finance recently voted (14 ‘yes’ to 1 ‘no’) to approve Governor Doyle’s proposal to provide an increase in state aid to library systems through the use of money from the Universal Service Fund. The committee also voted to approve the Governor’s proposal to continue the current level of Badgerlink service.
These budget choices won’t become law until they make it through the whole budget process but, because the Committee on Joint Finance has approved them, they stand a much better chance of becoming part of the next state budget.
As the legislative process moves along, you might be asked to contact your legislators again. Please do so. In the meantime, please send a thank-you note (preferably hand written) to the WVLS folks who serve on the Joint Finance Committee…Rep. Dan Meyer and Sen. Russ Decker.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A CENTURY MAKES!
Here are some of the U.S. statistics for
1905:
-- Heather Eldred
RENEE
HERMSEN LEAVES THORP!
Renee Hermsen resigned as Director of the Thorp
Public Library on May 27, 2005, for a bright, new future in Missouri. The
following excerpt from "Life Celebrations" with Renee Hermsen (Thorp
Courier; 4/13/2005) touches on the humor and warmth Renee displayed to
patrons, old and young alike, throughout her 21-year tenure at the library.
These traits, along with her hearty laughter and animated personality, were
easily recognized by friends and colleagues and what we will always fondly
remember about Renee. (Anyone who attended V-Cat Council meetings knew that if a
fit of giggles overcame the Clark County group, Renee was probably at the heart
of it! Do we have a volunteer to carry on the torch?)
…[Renee’s] association with Thorp’s library began back when she was a youngster, and maybe it was her love of the library’s quiet and solitude that drew her back. Renee reflects on when the library was located in what is today’s Moose Hall in Thorp, on the corner of North Lincoln and West Main Streets, "We lived down Main Street just a few houses, so I could walk to the library all the time. I went there when Juanita Schmidt was the librarian." Renee smiles as she raises her eyebrow to a sharp peak, pointedly making herself appear as though she can tell what you’re thinking. "I got down the eyebrow thing really well," she says, adding, "The older people in town will understand what I mean," referring to the exacting look Schmidt would give that would silence talk amongst the rows of books without her ever needing to speak.
… Renee’s Story Hour memories are many and joyous – a time when Renee found a great deal of humor over the years. She looks back on the day when a little boy gruffly told her to push her reading glasses up on her face where they belonged, and she laughs outright. "He had probably heard this at home about his own glasses," she speculates, "and he didn’t think too much of it when I tried to tell him I see best with my glasses halfway down my nose."
… Renee also experienced many times when her little charges disclosed perhaps a bit too much about their family lives to her, simply because she was their beloved story hour lady. One time, a group of avidly-listening little three-year-olds were trying to outdo each other about their dads’ hunting successes. "The deer my dad got was this big," one boasted, outstretching his hands as widely as possible." "Well," outdid another, "my dad’s was even bigger." A third little boy piped up, and this time Renee felt she had to intervene when she heard him fib, "My dad shot two deer." "No," Renee corrected, "Hunters can only shoot one deer." "Uhh,uhn," the boy defended, "The first one we took to the butcher, and the second one we cut up real fast in the garage and stuck it in the freezer right away!"
… Over her many years of service [at the Thorp Public Library], she’s gotten to know and care for a lot of people, ones who will miss her special attention, demonstrated as she heads over to the front desk to greet one of Thorp’s senior citizens. "I really don’t like these books," the woman explains, knowing that Renee understands her tastes. "But the good thing is," Renee responds, "it sounds like your cold is much better." It’s not just patrons’ reading selections Renee attends to.
…There will come a day, May 27, when Renee will sit at that front desk amassed with books one last time as Thorp’s Head Librarian, reminding people that the front door is automated and they don’t have to force the door shut; it will close by itself. She’s probably given that explanation thousands of times in her tenure here, but there will be that one last time. Renee will leave knowing that, in a sense, that door will always be open to her in welcome, the kinds of welcome she has given people coming through it, time and time again.
WVLS will miss you, Renee.
Second
Annual
NORTHWOODS
CONFERENCE
for
Library Friends, Supporters &
Volunteers
MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW!
Due to the huge success of the first Northwoods
Conference for Library Friends, Supporters & Volunteers, the Friends of
the Marathon County Public Library and the Wisconsin Valley Library Service
(WVLS) are planning a second conference!
As more information about this event becomes available, details will be posted at the WVLS web site at http://wvls.lib.wi.us/Workshops/workshop.html To receive conference updates via email, please submit a request to Marla Sepnafski, WVLS Workshop Coordinator at msepnafs@wvls.lib.wi.us
NATIONAL KIDSDAY
National KidsDay (NKD) is August 7,
2005. NKD is a day set aside each year to celebrate America’s children through
the gift of meaningful time with parents. The Boys and Girls Clubs of America
are leading the National KidsDay effort. They are interested in working with
public libraries to participate in this celebration by distributing their
complimentary Making Memories Guide. In addition, libraries are
encouraged to incorporate programming around National KidsDay.
The mission of the Day is about galvanizing national attention on the importance of spending meaningful time with children, something libraries do so well all year long. Further information is available on the Boys and Girls Clubs web site at http://www.kidsday.net/
To order a complimentary Making Memories Guide, please contact Linda Mays in the ALSC office at 800-545-2433 x1398 or at lmays@ala.org to order more; or download a pdf from the KidsDay site.
(Children’s Event Organizer; Youth Services Update of the Lakeshores Library System and MidWisconsin Federated Library System; 6/22/05)
CREATE
A SET TIME FOR KIDS TO DO HOMEWORK EVERY SCHOOL DAY
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:
HOMEWORK – Asset #23
Kids who have this asset regularly do one hour of homework every school day.
Children and youth need a quiet, comfortable, well-lit area to complete homework without distractions. Set specific times each day to study and complete homework assignments. Provide a dictionary, thesaurus, and other references. There are many homework help tools available on-line, but be available to monitor Internet use. Stay involved and be available to answer questions or help them study for a spelling test or history exam. Don’t do the work for your child, but encourage them to do their work accurately, neatly and by the time the assignment is due. If your child has no homework assigned, or if all assigned work was completed in school, ask him or her to tell you about their current subject areas and discuss their areas of concern. Encourage them to read books or magazines they enjoy at home every day, or sit down together to read the newspaper and talk about current events.
LET THE GAMES
BEGIN!
In the next five years, Gamers (those
born after 1970 and otherwise known as "Generation C" or "Millennials,")
will be the dominant demographic for libraries to serve. This population was
born between 1978 and 1994, give or take; grew up with remote control, computing
and the Internet; have spent more time watching TV than in school; and, are more
likely to use Google to research a paper than go to the library.
How do you get Gamers into the library? Following are some ways to get started:
For more information on gaming in libraries, check out "Gaming for Librarians: an Introduction" and "Video Games as a Service: Hosting Tournaments at Your Library" in the February 2005 issue of VOYA ( http://pdfs.voya.com/VO/YA2/VOYA200502YA101.pdf ), and "Meet the Gamers" in the 4/15/05 issue of Library Journal. If you would like photocopies of any of these articles, please contact Marla Sepnafski at the WVLS office (715/261-7252 or msepnafs@wvls.lib.wi.us).
The BIG Bang!
"GAMERS"
MEET "BOOMERS" AT THE LIBRARY
Prominent sociologists note that a
subtle but large-scale shift is quietly taking place in popular culture today.
About 77 million Baby Boomers, who have shaped and dominated society since the
mid 1960s, are approaching retirement. And their influence on music, fashion,
business, politics, etc., is waning to a new generation most aptly called
Gamers, those born after 1970 and raised on video games. Gamers are very
different from any generation that has come before them. And, with 90 million
strong, organizations that don’t understand or acknowledge them run the risk
of becoming increasingly isolated and irrelevant. The key to securing and
retaining Gamers and Boomers is giving each one what it wants without offending
or chasing either population from the stacks. To find out how your library can
more effectively accommodate these two user groups, take a look at the Jan-March
2005 issue of the OCLC Newsletter at http://www.oclc.org/news/publications/newsletters/oclc/2005/267/default.htm,
or contact Marla Sepnafski at the WVLS office (715/261-7252; msepnafs@wvls.lib.wi.us
) for a photocopy of the article.
CRITICAS
IS MOVING TO AN ONLINE FORMAT!
Created by the editors of Publishers
Weekly, Library Journal and School Library Journal, the
popular periodical, Criticas, has everything you need to effectively
serve the Latino market. Beginning in July, a FREE
monthly online issue will be available. There will still be two print issues in
June and October. The format for both will be more up to date with less lag
between new titles and reviews. Additionally the online site will offer archives
of previous issues. If you’d like to be the first to know when the website
goes live, please send an email with your name, address and library affiliation
to e-criticas@reedbusiness.com.
Or visit http://www.libraryjournal.com/index.asp?layout=criticas
for more information. It couldn’t be easier to stay on top of new
Spanish publishers and titles!
(edited from Carpe Hootem; newsletter
of the Outagamie Waupaca Library System; 6/3/05)
AN IDEA
FOR YOUR FRIENDS GROUP
Is your Friends Group looking for a
new project? Suggest purchasing a walker for in-library use. Nancy Fletcher,
Special Needs Coordinator for the Waukesha Federated Library System, displayed a
new aluminum walker at the statewide Special Needs Liaisons’ meeting. This
light-weight walker, complete with wheels, hand brakes and a wire basket, helps
patrons with special needs remain independent while using the library. EDITOR’S
NOTE: If your library would like more information about this new walker, please
contact Beth Sillars, WVLS Special Needs Consultant, at 715/261-7252 or sillars@wvls.lib.wi.us
(Online Update; South Central Library
System; 6/10/05)
LIBRI
FOUNDATION GRANTS FOR RURAL LIBRARIES
On April 30, 2005, thirteen Wisconsin
rural libraries received grants from the Libri Foundation to purchase children's
books. To reward local support, the foundation matches money raised by local
groups on a 2-to-1 ratio to a maximum grant amount of $700. For instance, $350
from a library's Friends group may be matched by $700 from the Libri Foundation.
The program is designed to benefit libraries in a rural area with active children's programs but limited operating budgets. In general, county libraries should serve a population under 16,000 and municipal libraries should serve a population under 10,000 (usually under 5,000). Rural is usually considered to be at least 30 miles from a city with a population over 40,000. Grants are awarded three times a year, with application deadlines in March, July, and December.
Applications for the next grant cycle are due by July 15, 2005. Application guidelines and forms are available at: http://www.librifoundation.org/
A QUICK GOOGLE TIP
Need a quick definition of a computer
term, a medical term, an acronym or just about anything else? Google can help!
In the search box, just type "define:" followed by the word. If you
wanted a definition of rotfl, for example, you would type: define:rotfl and you
would get a list of definitions.
(Wicked Cool; May 2005; Stef Morrill,
South Central Library System; http://psw.scls.lib.wi.us/technology/wickedcool/0505.html
)
DIGITAL
AUDIOBOOK STANDARDS APPROVED BY AUDIO PUBLISHERS
The Audio Publishers Association (APA)
has approved the use of the metadata standard CEA 2003-B for production
guidelines in developing digital audiobooks. The association encourages its
members to use the standards in the latest digital formats, such as downloads
(MP3, WMA, etc.), and fixed media or solid state formats such as MP3-CD, flash
memory, etc. APA also encourages "other publishers who are creating
audiobooks, as well as manufacturers who are developing new devices and playback
options, to adopt these production standards," claims Anji Cornette, chair
of the APA Technology Committee.
Three years ago, the APA and the Consumer
Electronics Association created a joint workgroup to build a standard that
audiobook publishers could use to initiate table of contents files and provide
easy navigability for digital audiobooks that consumer electronics and software
manufacturers could use to produce compatible audio players. Said Cornette,
"Our goal is to make it easier for consumers to listen to all audiobooks in
the latest formats."
(Library Hotline; 6/13/05)
A SIZZLING DISPLAY!
A recent Cooks and Books display at
the Marathon County Public Library took advantage of a larger display area,
combining fiction and nonfiction material. In addition to being a popular
display, Cooks and Books proved to be a good way to circulate slightly decadent
cookbooks in an Atkins era.
THE RECIPE FOR COOKS AND BOOKS:
 | Agatha Rai.s.in and the Quiche of Death by M.C. Beaton |
| The Body in the Bouillon by Katherine Hall Page |
| Blackberry Wine and Chocolat by Joanne Harris |
| Cooking for Harly: A Low Carbohydrate Novel by Kay-Marie James |
| Cornbread Killer by Lou Jane Temple |
| Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel |
| Velma Still Cooks in Leeway by Vinita Hampton Wright |
| Prime Cut by Diane Mott Davidson |
| The Sourdough Wars by Julie Smith |
| Virginia Rich / Nancy Pickard titles |
-- Linda Gau, Marathon County Public Library
(edited from the WLA Reader’s
Section Newsletter; Fall 2004)
THE
"OLEO WARS": WISCONSIN’S FIGHT OVER THE DEMON SPREAD
Would YOU Buy "Pearls of Fat"? "To
generations of Americans, it was just "oleo," but the name of the
butter substitute has a surprisingly complex history. Its inventor, Hippolyte
Mege-Mouries, created the term oleomargarine by combining Latin and Greek
words. Oleo came from oleum, the Latin for beef fat, and margarine
from margaric acid, a fatty acid that was a major component of the new
substance. (Because of the acid’s pearly appearance its discoverer had named
it after the Greek word for pearl, margarites.)…
And, did you know? "If you eat a meal in a Wisconsin restaurant today and want margarine instead of butter, you may have to ask for it – Wisconsin law forbids the substitution of margarine for butter in a public eating place. If you are a student, patient, or inmate in a state institution, you will be served butter with your meals unless a doctor says margarine is necessary for your health. When you shop for margarine in a Wisconsin supermarket, you must buy a whole pound colored a prescribed shade of yellow and labeled in letters of a specific size…" For the complete story, read: The "Oleo Wars": Wisconsin’s Fight Over the Demon Spread; Wisconsin Magazine of History; Autumn 2001; http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/wmh/pdf/wmh_autumn01_strey.pdf
WEB SITES OF INTEREST (tourist traps on the information superhighway!)
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF FANTASY BOOKS SIMILAR TO HARRY POTTER
TITLES
http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=news&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm
&ContentID=97082
The Association for Library Service to
Children (ALSC) has posted a list of fantasy books for Harry Potter fans. One
portion of the list contains books that may have similar story elements and
replicate the accessibility, tone and flavor of the Potter titles. The other
portion of the list contains books with similar themes and may be more complex
or are great fantasy fiction.
CAMPFIRE COOKING
http://www.eartheasy.com/play_campfire_cooking.htm
Instructions on building a safe campfire,
and recipes to broaden the menu beyond hot dogs.
JUNE IS DAIRY MONTH so check out these sites (copyright 2005 by Librarians’ Index to the Internet, LII):
(LII; 2/3/05)How to Buy Dairy Products
http://www.ams.usda.gov/howtobuy/dairy.htm
From the Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, this site presents points to consider when purchasing milk, yogurt, cheese, butter, and other dairy products, and descriptions of different types of dairy products, such as buttermilk, evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, half-and-half, whipping cream and frozen desserts.
Guide to Non-Dairy "Milks"
http://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2001jan/2001janmilk.htm
Guide to choosing alternatives to
dairy milk, such as soy milk, rice milk, and almond milk, and discusses
nutritional content, choices for children, cooking with milk substitutes, and
related topics.
Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board: Cheese Information
http://www.wisdairy.com/cheeseinfo/
This promotional site for the
Wisconsin dairy industry presents profiles of specific types of cheeses made in
Wisconsin, a food and wine pairing guide, serving suggestions, a history of
cheese-making in Wisconsin, a virtual tour of a cheese factory, production
statistics, and a glossary.
MUSIC FROM TV COMMERCIALS
http://www.songtitle.info/
What WAS that song in that commercial?
Check it out here, for each season the list includes the name of the product,
the song, the performer, and a link to a song sample.
NADAguides LAUNCHES SIDE-BY-SIDE VEHICLE COMPARISON TOOL
http://www.urlwire.com/news/060805rss.html
NADAguides.com ( http://www.nadaguides.com/
) recently announced the launch of an online side0by-side comparison
tool, giving car buyers the ability to compare up to four new or used cars
simultaneously online. With this new service, shoppers can compare new against
new, new against used or used against used for makes and models dating back to
1998.
SCRAPBOOKING SITES:
Scrapjazz, http://www.scrapjazz.com, is a scrapbooking megasite.
Scrapbook.com, http://www.scrapbook.com while not as extensive as Scrapjazz, will appeal to beginners and advanced scrappers alike.
Scrapbooking.com, http://www.scrapbooking.com a magazine, runs a rich, visually attractive, professionally produced web site. Not only does the visitor get the current, inspiration-filled issue free, one can also browse and search the archives and read older articles at no cost.
(edited from "Crop, Stick, and Stamp: Scrapbooking Resources on the Web" by Paula Berinstein in Searcher: The Magazine for Database Professionals, 6/05)
July
- HOT DOG MONTH www.hot-dog.org
July 12 – WVLS Board of Trustees meeting – Marathon County Public Library – 9:30 a.m.
July 13 – On this date 75 years ago, the first World Cup soccer championships were held in Uruguay. Back in 1930, just 14 countries participated. Today, soccer is enjoying the height of its popularity, with men and women, as well as boys and girls, playing all over the world. So the phrase "World Cup Soccer" should get you a lot of attention. Post a history of the games on your library’s web site, link to the official site from your home page, display your soccer books, have patrons search for answers to a quiz you create, and give books, new balls, or soccer-star posters for prizes. (Marketing Library Services, May/June 2005)
July 16 – The release date for JK Rowling’s sixth Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Check out this site for a color poster you can printout and display to announce the arrival of the new HP at your library – http://www.scholastic.com/harrypotter/funstuff/index.htm
July 19-20 – WiLSWorld Conference – Pyle Center, Madison – some of the presentations will be applicable to your immediate practices, others will offer a look to the future – find out more by going to: http://www.wils.wisc.edu/events/wworld05/
(OCLC Weekly Summary for June 5-11, 2005)
August
August 4 – WVLS V-Cat Council meeting – T.B. Scott Free Library, Merrill – 9:30 a.m.
August 7 – National KidsDay – for details, see article in the Youth Matters section above.
August 18 – WVLS Executive Committee meeting – Marathon County Public Library – 9:30 a.m.
September
September 17 – WVLS Board of Trustees meeting – Marathon County Public Library – 9:30 a.m.
September 22-23 – Northwest Children’s Book Conference – Schwan’s Retreat and Conference Center – Trego, WI. Sponsored by the Spooner Public Library, this conference is designed primarily for librarians, elementary and middle school teachers, parents and day care workers, and will focus on children’s literature and programming that enhances reading experiences. The CCBC will be giving a presentation on the Best of Children’s Literature in 2005, and other popular presenters will include Marge Loch-Woulters, Barb Huntington, Illustrator Laurie Caple and authors Kashmira Sheth and Patricia Pfister. For more information about this 2-day conference, visit http://www.nwls.lib.wi.us/ncbc
September 24 – October 1 – 2005 BANNED BOOKS WEEK – for more information, including a place to order a BBW kit, visit http://www.ala.org/bbooks
October
October 15 – 2nd Annual Northwoods Conference for Friends, Supporters & Volunteers – sponsored by the Friends of Marathon County Public Library and WVLS – Skateway, Medford.
October 16-22 – TEEN READ WEEK – theme: "Get Real! @ your library" – the focus is on nonfiction and realistic fiction – for more information, visit the Young Adult Library Services Association new Teen Read Week web site at http://www.ala.org/teenread
|
– Kris Adams Wendt,
Rhinelander District Library Director
|
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
posted to WISPUBLIB, or sent an email.
To subscribe to WISPUBLIB, send an email message to wispublib@badger.state.wi.us
In the body of the message (subject line is ignored) type: subscribe WISPUBLIB.
Then send your email. To have The Lamplighter emailed to you without subscribing
to WISPUBLIB, contact Barbara Freimund at 715/261-7252, or email freimund@wvls.lib.wi.us
