WVLS' The Lamplighter

…Did you know that Longfellow was a librarian? Yep, at Bodwoin in about 1830. Did you notice that the U.S. Post Office recently issued a stamp with Longfellow on it? Hurry and get some so you can use them before the postage rates go up.)

WHAT GOES AROUND
Free or cheap interlibrary lending is a precious thing for virtually every student, scholar, and recreational reader in the United States…Interloan users in other countries often have to pay for the privilege. Most people never think of the value of this service…Library users need to learn that interlibrary loan isn’t really free at all. It is a gift paid for by every American taxpayer. The average American probably doesn’t know it, but the average cost of interlibrary lending in the U.S. is about $22 to borrow a book and $12 to lend one (according to statistics from the Association of Research Libraries). That adds up to well over $30 for each volume. For the most part, libraries silently eat those costs.

The significance of that sacrifice goes largely unnoticed. It isn’t the sexiest line on a library budget. But there is something profoundly democratic, surprisingly compassionate, and deeply civic in sharing our national resources in this manner.

The monetary sacrifice of the loan, along with the relinquishing of a physical book that represents a considerable investment on the part of the providing library, is even more astonishing during an era in which we hear daily reports about budget cuts to public, school and research libraries in every state… Libraries are hardly in a position to waste money by serving distant patrons and taking the risk of never getting their books back. And yet, they do…The exchange of books between public and private institutions in the U.S. isn’t a quid-pro-quo system…Just because one library lends more than it receives doesn’t usually stop it from participating in interloan.

The system works precisely because it helps everyone. If too many libraries withdraw from sharing systems because they believe they are incurring more costs than benefits, the system will fall apart. Interlibrary lending only works when, in some fundamental way, libraries consider all of us to be their patrons. They must have the foresight and the imagination to see that all knowledge in some way, someday, will serve everyone. What goes around may, both literally and figuratively, come around…
Michel Gorman, immediate past president of the ALA said interlibrary lending is “the only professional service I can think of in which the provider pays the cost.” The faith our libraries show in the ability of that service to somehow, someday, contribute to a greater good is remarkable, and yet usually goes unremarked.

(This article has been edited from an article of the same title seen in the March 14, 2007 online issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education. It was written by Susanna Ashton who was a Fulbright scholar to the Republic of Ireland (where she learned that interloan really isn’t free). She is associate professor of English at Clemson University in South Carolina. To read the whole article, click on http://chronicle.com/jobs/news/2007/03/2007031401c/printable.html)

SHARE…LISTEN…LEARN
WVLS is inviting all area public library directors to attend this grassroots sharing and networking opportunity. More information will be provided over the next few weeks, but mark your calendar today, and plan to meet with your colleagues on May 17th!

New!
DOWNLOADABLE VIDEOS NOW AVAILABLE!
As a result of the WVLS membership in the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC), a new collection of downloadable videos is now available to all patrons in the WVLS area. The collection is from OverDrive, the same provider WPLC uses for the downloadable audio books.

To see the complete listing of 162 video titles in the collection, go to http://dbooks.wplc.info and follow the link on the left for View All Videos. A patron may check out a maximum of four items, any combination of audio books and videos. Patrons are encouraged to download OverDrive titles from home, since to do so in the library will compromise the speed of the network. Please note that a user must have version 2.0 or higher of the OverDrive Media Console software in order to view videos. The software can be downloaded from the WPLC Digital Books web site mentioned above.

If you have any questions about this new service, please feel free to contact WVLS staff members, Marla Sepnafski (715/261-7252; msepnafs@wvls.lib.wi.us) or Leora Young (715/261-7254; lyoung2@wvls.lib.wi.us), or the WVLS representative to meetings of the WPLC, Sharyn Heili (715/261-7235; ssheili@mail.co.marathon.wi.us).

In celebration of her retirement, the Greenwood Public Library will be holding an Open House in Nettie’s honor on April 27th at 1:00 p.m. Everyone in the WVLS area is invited to attend! Cake and refreshments will be served.

Nettie plans to work on a genealogy project and many other projects that interest her when she retires.

Greenwood Public Library staff hope to see you at the library on April 27th!

STATE SUPERINTENDENT APPOINTS NEW LSTA ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS
State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster recently announced new appointments to the LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) Advisory Committee. The new members are Jan Adams, Media Specialist, CESA 10; Roxane Bartelt, Head of Children's Services, Kenosha Public Library; Jeff Gilderson-Duwe, Director, Oshkosh Public Library/Winnefox Library System; Bea Lebal, Director, T.B. Scott Library, Merrill; and Mildred McDowell, District Library Media Specialist, Milwaukee Public Schools.

Continuing members of the committee are Terrance Burton, Director, Ebling Library, UW-Madison; Paula Kiely, City Librarian, Milwaukee Public Library; Paul Onufrak, Automation Librarian, Eastern Shores Library System; Elizabeth Richmond, Associate Professor/Reference Librarian, UW-Eau Claire; Phyllis Davis, Director, South Central Library System; Terry Dawson, Director, Appleton Public Library; Jim Gingery, Director, Milwaukee County Federated Library System; Jane Pearlmutter, Associate Director, UW-Madison School of Library and Information Studies; and Zora Sampson, Director, Library, Information, Instructional Technology, UW-Barron County, Rice Lake.

Members on the committee serve staggered three-year terms. The committee advises the state superintendent and the Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning on the development of the long-range plan for the LSTA program, annual grant priorities and categories, and applications and recommendations for grant awards. More information on the LSTA program is available at http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/lsta.html. Contact Peg Branson 608/266-2413 or peg.branson@dpi.state.wi.us if you have questions.

GREENER PASTURES: THE WISCONSIN RURAL LIBRARY SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT
With funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning (DLTCL) has joined with OCLC’s WebJunction to offer a day-long workshop Greener Pastures: The Wisconsin Rural Library Sustainability Project to directors of libraries serving rural areas or with service populations under 25,000. The primary goal of the project is to support the efforts of rural and small libraries in developing and implementing community-specific action plans for sustaining public access computing.

The “Greener Pastures” workshop is being offered at ten sites throughout Wisconsin between February and May 2007. Upcoming workshops are scheduled for the following locations and dates: Mercer, 4/18; Wausau, 4/19; Sparta, 4/26; and Eau Claire, 5/2 (as a WAPL pre-conference). Invitations will be sent to library directors six to eight weeks before the workshop in their region, but if a workshop at another site is preferable, requests will be accommodated when possible.

For more information or to register, contact Marla Sepnafski at 715/261-7250 or msepnafs@wvls.lib.wi.us.

A Program for Wisconsin Public Librarians
SERVING THE LEGAL INFORMATION NEEDS OF THE PUBLIC
How can public libraries and the courts help each other in responding to the legal information needs of the public?

The Wisconsin Court System’s Tenth Judicial District believes that opening the lines of communication is the first step. They developed a model project to foster communication between courts and libraries around the state.

The morning session will feature a district court administrator, clerk of court, register in probate, pro se program coordinator for Wisconsin Judicare, and the State Law Library staff. They will provide an introduction to assistance currently available to self-represented litigants, demonstrate online court forms and court record databases, provide information on the offices and services of the clerk of court and register in probate and share online resources available to help the public with legal questions.

In the afternoon, Jane Colwin and Connie Von Der Heide, from the Wisconsin State Law Library, will provide an overview of Wisconsin’s legal framework and websites for Wisconsin legal materials such as statutes, administrative codes, case law, journal articles, forms, etc. They will discuss the challenges of assisting users with legal questions, and will share web sites and other materials designed to help the users help themselves.

Serving the Legal Information Needs of the Public, a joint project of the Northern Waters Library Service, Indianhead Federated Library System, and the Wisconsin State Law Library, will run from 10:00-3:00, and will be offered at the following locations: · Manitowish Waters on April 10th (contact Linda Stobbe - 715/682-2365; lstobbe@nwls.lib.wi.us - to register); or · Eau Claire on April 11th (contact Leah Langby – 715/839-5082 x14; langby@ifls.lib.wi.us – to register).

With graphic novels making best-of-2006 lists in the New York Times, Time magazine, the Village Voice, and other heavy hitters, it is safe to say that the comics medium has made it securely into the mainstream. And the numbers prove it. According to Publishers Weekly (March 7, 2007), in 2001, the estimated sales of graphic novels was $75 million; in 2005, the estimated sales of graphic novels was $295 million; and, in 2006, the estimated sales of graphic novels was $330 million. In 2005, the number of graphic novels published was 2,477, while in 2006 the number published was 2,785.

What this means is that if libraries don’t already have a collection of graphic novels, they should reconsider. And, to help you get started, the following handouts from the 2^nd annual New York Comic-Con (http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6421289.html) will be helpful:

Also, you might want to visit the No Flying, No Tights! website (http://www.noflyingnotights.com) by Robin Brenner. Brenner, a Reference and Teen Services Librarian [Brookline Public Library, MA] and one of Library Journal’s Movers & Shakers for 2007, created the web site to share her passion for graphic novels with other librarians. On NFNT, there are graphic novel reviews, a virtual training manual and core collection lists to assist librarians who are new to graphic novel format.
(edited from Library Journal; 3/15/07)

ALSC ANNOUNCES BOOKAPALOOZA TO GIVE AWAY BOOKS
The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is now accepting applications for its new Bookapalooza Program. The program will offer select libraries a collection of materials that will help transform their collection and provide the opportunity for these materials to be used in their community in creative and innovative ways. The program aligns with ALSC’s core purpose of creating a better future for all children through libraries.

Each year the ALSC office receives almost 3,000 newly published books, videos, audiobooks, and recordings from children’s trade publishers. The materials are primarily for children age birth through 14 and are submitted to ALSC award and media evaluation selection committees for award and notables consideration. The Bookapalooza Program was created to find new homes for these materials once the award and notables selection process is completed for the year.

ALSC will select three libraries to receive a Bookapalooza collection of materials published in 2006, to be used in a way that creatively enhances each library’s service to children and families. For the pilot year, libraries must be located in the United States and the applicant must be a personal member of ALSC.

Details and applications are available on the ALSC Web site at http://www.ala.org/alsc, click on "Awards and Scholarships." The ALSC Executive Committee will review applications. The deadline for receipt of applications is April 15, 2007. Winners will be notified by May 1, 2007.

The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) received a total of 546 challenges last year. A challenge is defined as a formal, written complaint, filed with a library or school, requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness. Public libraries, schools and school libraries report the majority of challenges to OIF. "The number of challenges reflects only incidents reported," said Judith F. Krug, director of the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom. "For each reported challenge, four or five likely remain unreported."

The 10 Most Challenged Books of 2006 reflect a range of themes, and consist of the following titles:

Off the list this year, but on for several years past, are the Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.

For more information on book challenges and censorship, please visit the ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom’s Banned Books Web site at www.ala.org/bbooks. (ALA news release; 3/6/07)

APRIL IS THE MONTH FOR POETRY
Inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996, National Poetry Month (NPM) brings together publishers, booksellers, literary organizations, libraries, schools, and poets around the country to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture. Thousands of businesses and non-profit organizations participate through readings, festivals, book displays, workshops, and other events.

To help with these activities, the Academy is offering libraries lots of resources. Sign up for a free poster featuring an updated image of Walt Whitman, or enroll to receive a daily poem, from works published in 2007, at http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/41. Interviews, audio clips, biographies, events, and other resources are also available. To view the Academy's New Spring Books List, visit www.poets.org/npmbooks.php.

The NPM website also has teen-friendly projects to celebrate and promote Young People’s Poetry Week, (April 16-22). Find a National Poetry Almanac that contains twelve monthly themes for individual or classroom use, 30 Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month, and a Poetfan Contest for people who demonstrate a passion for poetry that goes beyond the usual at http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/94. To further celebrate YPPW, the Children’s Book Council web site (http://www.cbcbooks.org/yppw/celebrate/) has resources and lists of activities to help schools get started. Also, HarperCollins has created a web site devoted to Shel Silverstein’s poetry. The site (http://www.shelsilverstein.com/indexSite.html) has games, eCards, printable posters and activities, screensavers and more.

PRODUCTION OF CASSETTE BOOK MACHINES COMES TO AN END
The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, produced its last analog cassette book machine on February 17, 2007, signaling the advent of Digital Talking Books.

Since 1969, 1.5 million cassette book machines (CBMs) have been manufactured and distributed to more than 25 million NLS patrons. Dramatic advances in technology have prompted NLS to move to a digital system using flash-memory technology to improve services to its patrons. "Analog audiocassette and cassette book machine technology has been the backbone of the NLS system, but it is outdated and nearing the end of its useful life," said NLS director Frank Kurt Cylke. "Our patrons have heightened expectations of service improvements, especially those who are tech savvy. Their expectations along with the impending obsolescence of key elements of analog technology warrant the conversion to a digital system. Digital talking-book machine technology will replace audiocassette technology just as audiocassette technology replaced its predecessor, rigid disc technology."

NLS expects to launch the digital audio system in 2008. The new system will include solid state, flash-memory playback machines that will be about one-third the size of the current machine and will play digital audiobooks provided on flash-memory cartridges. The system will provide better audio quality, be more durable, be more reliable, and consume less power. In addition, cartridges will allow longer playing time and practically eliminate the need to change cartridges, as is often required with audiocassettes.

"Though production of the CBM has ceased, NLS will continue to provide CBMs, from our existing inventory, and cassette audiobooks to our patrons during the transition to digital talking books and players," said NLS chief of Materials and Development Division Michael Katzmann. “We expect some patrons to continue using CBMs beyond 2012."

Housecleaning & Housekeeping Advice, Hints and Tips
http://www.housekeepingchannel.com/
This is a nice starting point for the housekeeping-challenged and to motivate the uninspired to start their spring cleaning projects. Pick a topic – bathrooms, carpets and flooring, garages, etc. – and it will offer articles and tips, product reviews, and links to recommended tools, books and videos.
(Marylaine Block’s Neat New Stuff I Found This Week; 3/2/07; http://marylaine.com/neatnew.html)

Introduction to Accounting
http://www.simplestudies.com/
Accounting can strike fear into the hearts of many, particularly around the ides of April here in the United States. Beginning students of the field and small business owners will breathe a bit easier after looking over this easy to use and informative site. As the homepage remarks, this site will help users learn the basics of accounting and also give them the opportunity to solve common-place accounting problems. The four primary sections of the website include "Lessons", "Problems", "Solutions", and "Downloads". In the "Lessons" section, visitors can make their way through eight separate lessons which cover the elements of financial reporting all the way up through natural resources and depletion. The "Problems" section contains a basic set of accounting problems keyed to the eight lessons mentioned above,
and the "Solutions" cover all of the problems and their execution in detail.
(From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2007; http://scout.wisc.edu/; 3/16/07)

SUCCESSFUL SUMMER LIBRARY PROGRAMS PRESENTATION
http://www.summerreading.cla-net.org/resourcesadult2007.html
The California Summer Reading Program web site has several resources and graphics that anyone is welcome to use. New to the site is a video and 6-page handout on adult summer reading programs by librarian Cathy Marvier. In this episode, Cathy tells us of her adventures with Adult Summer Reading. The presentation is loaded with tips and techniques for conducting a successful adult reading program.
(pubyac listserv; 3/13/07)

TAKE OVER THE WORLD, ONE GREAT ROAD AT A TIME
http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/Content/Pages/Great_Roads/great_roads.jsp?locale=en_US
Harley Davidson just launched an application for exploring great rides. Powered by Virtual Earth, there are about 50 trails in the system right now that include lots of details on the route including other riders’ ratings and opinions, sample itineraries, photos, and local info. Even if you’re not a HD rider, useful for finding scenic rides in your part of the country.
(ResourceShelf.com; 2/27/07; http://www.resourceshelf.com)

April 10 - Serving the Legal Information Needs of the Public – Manitowish Waters – 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. This workshop will also be offered on April 11th in Eau Claire. More information is available in the Continuing Education section of this issue of The Lamplighter.

April 12 – WVLS V-Cat Council meeting – Community Insurance Agency building meeting room, Withee – 9:30 a.m.

April 13 – Here comes that notoriously unlucky day of karma-busting bad vibes, Friday the 13th! Protect library patrons from evil on this day by disseminating ever-lucky bookmarks available in Acrobat format at http://www.ssdesign.com/librarypr/content/p101100a.shtml

April 14 – WVLS Executive Committee meeting – Marathon County Public Library – 9:30 a.m.

April 15 – 100th Birthday Celebration! – Marathon County Public Library, Wausau – 1:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m. – for more information, call 715/261-7200, or check the library’s website at http://www.mcpl.lib.wi.us

April 15-21 – NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK – theme: “Come Together @ your library” – http://www.ala.org/pio/nlw/.

April 17-20 – WAAL (Wisconsin Association of Academic Librarians) Annual Conference – Wintergreen Resort and Conference Center, Wisconsin Dells – visit the conference web site at http://www.wla.lib.wi.us/waal/conferences/2007/ for details.

April 19 – Greener Pastures: The Wisconsin Rural Library Sustainability Project – Midway Hotel Conference Center, Wausau – 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. – more information is available in this issue of The Lamplighter.

April 23-26 – “Libraries: Inspiring spaces … functional places” – The Pyle Center, Madison – for registration and pricing information, visit www.slis.wisc.edu/continueed or call Anna Palmer at 608/263-4452.

April 24 – WVLS Library Advisory Committee meeting – Northcentral Technical College, Wausau – 9:30 a.m.

April 26 – Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day – This nationally observed annual event provides girls and boys between the ages of 8 and 12 an introduction to a parent’s business and its functions, and allows them to observe adults in a variety of roles and responsibilities.

April 27 – Retirement Party for Nettie Berthold – Greenwood Public Library – 1:00 p.m.

May 2-4 – “Raising Your Community’s Net Worth” - WAPL Spring Conference – The Plaza Hotel & Suites, Eau Claire (call 1-800-482-7829 for reservations) – the conference registration form is available at http://www.wla.lib.wi.us/wapl/conferences/2007/07regform.pdf.

May 8-9 – WiscNet Future Technologies Conference 2007 – Monona Terrace Convention Center, Madison. Topics to be discussed include M.I.T.’s OpenCourseWare initiative, security, Second Life, Internet 2 applications, advanced networking, Web 2.0 applications and other educational technology best practices. For more conference information and online registration, visit the conference web site at http://www.wiscnet.net/ftc/. Early bird registration ends April 24th.

May 15 – Cataloging & Creating Reports: a workshop for V-CAT members – T.B. Scott Free Library, Merrill – 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. – to register or for more information, contact Juanita Thomas at 715/261-7250 or jathomas@wvls.lib.wi.us.

May 17 – WVLS Public Library Directors Gathering – Marathon County Public Library – 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”

-- Charles Darwin

(Refdesk Thought-Of-The-Day; 9/21/04)

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!

EDITOR: Marla Sepnafski
Phone: 715/261-7252
FAX: 715/261-7259

msepnafs@wvls.lib.wi.us

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

You may copy, reprint or forward all or part of this newsletter to friends, colleagues or customers, so long as the use is not for resale or profit and the information/article is attributed to this issue of the WVLS newsletter, The Lamplighter.

Articles	Monthly Features
WVLS Public Library Directors Gathering	Director's Memo
Downloadable Videos Now Available	In the System
Nettie Berthold to Retire from Greenwood Public Library	People In the News
State Superintendent Appoints New LSTA Advisory Committee Members	Continuing Education
Greener Pastures: The WI Rural Library Sustainability Project	Grant Update
ALSC Announces Bookapalooza to Give Away Books	Info to Go
The Dreyer's Foundation Provides Grants and Product Donations	On Command
And Tango Makes Three Tops ALA's 2006 List of Most Challenged Books	From Hither & Yon
April is the Month for Poetry	Web Sites of Interest
Production of Cassette Book Machines Comes to an End	Calendar of Events
Bowker Audiobook Report: Mysteries, Suspense Prevail
	Remember to check the updated "Off the Subject" page for recipes and jokes.