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January 2008 |
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Director's Memo |
JOB OPENING AT WVLS!
The Wisconsin Valley Library Service (WVLS) is seeking a Public Relations
and Continuing Education Coordinator to develop and coordinate continuing
education and training opportunities for WVLS staff, area library personnel and
trustees; edit the system’s monthly newsletter; design and maintain the system’s
web site; and coordinate and implement marketing strategies to promote services
to member libraries and trustees.
Qualified candidates should hold an MLS from an ALA accredited institution or have equivalent combination of education, training and experience, and have two or more years of professional library experience. Experience in a public library system is beneficial but not required. Computer skills, application of Web 2.0 and social networking technologies, and web authoring experience are essential. Professional experience in public relations, communications or marketing is desired. Candidates must possess strong oral and written communication skills, enthusiasm for new and emerging technologies, ability to handle multiple projects, ability to work collaboratively with others, and a sense of humor. Candidates must have a valid driver’s license and the ability to travel independently.
Compensation range for full-time position: $34,715-$37,065, depending on experience and qualifications. Attractive benefits package is provided.
A complete job description is available at http://wvls.lib.wi.us/Jobs/jobopp.html
Submit cover letter, resume and complete contact information for three references by January 31, 2008, to: Marla Sepnafski, WVLS Director, 300 N First Street, Wausau, WI 54403 (telephone: 715/261-7251; email: msepnafs@wvls.lib.wi.us). Position will remain open until qualified candidate is determined.
Please feel free to share this information with anyone who may be interested!
ATTEND LIBRARY LEGISLATIVE DAY VIRTUALLY !
It is difficult for some library supporters to leave work to attend
Library Legislative Day in Madison on January 22nd. However, this doesn’t
diminish the need to have your voice heard at the Capitol. All background
information on key issues will be available on the WLA Web site (http://www.wla.lib.wi.us/legis/day/)
prior to LLD. Watch for this information and e-mail, call, or write your
legislator in January. If you can’t make it in person, you can still make a
difference for libraries! Make this your New Year’s resolution!
Happy New Year! Feliz aņo Nuevo! Nyob Zoo Xyoo Tshiab!
Marla Sepnafski
Hispanic Outreach Library Action Project
Marathon County Public Library – Wausau, WI
Thursday, January 17th; 9:30 am—4 pm
Using resources, case studies, web sites and action plans, you will gain useful tips and tools for reaching out to Spanish speakers near your library! Presented by: Jamie Matczak, CE Coordinator, Nicolet Federated Library System, and Barb Huntington, Youth and Special Services Consultant, DLTCL.
Agenda:
9:00 a.m.
Registration and refreshments
9:30 a.m. Welcome, Introduction and Making the Case
10:30 a.m. Reaching Out
11:30 a.m. Community Leader Panel
12:30 p.m. Lunch (will be provided)
1:00 p.m. Providing Services to the Spanish-Speaking Community
2:15 p.m. Marketing to the Spanish-Speaking Community
2:45 p.m. Planning an Outreach Activity
3:30 p.m. WebJunction Demonstration and Wrap Up
6.0 CE credits are available to workshop participants
To register, contact Beth Sillars, WVLS Special Needs Consultant at:
(715)261-7255, or sillars@wvls.lib.wi.us
Questions about the workshop can be directed to Jamie Matczak:
(920) 448-4413, or jmatczak@mail.nfls.lib.wi.us
Administered by the Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning with a Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation grant, the iHOLA! Project workshop is part of WebJunction's Spanish Language Outreach Program.
| Mark Your Calendars! 21st ANNUAL CHILDREN’S BOOK FEST Northern Wisconsin librarians, teachers, parents and members of the general public who are interested in learning about the best books for young people are invited to attend Children’s Book Fest 2008, a two-day conference held at the Rhinelander Holiday Inn Express (Rhinelander, WI) on March 11 and 12. Children’s literature specialists from the nationally acclaimed Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) in Madison, Wisconsin, will discuss books for children and young adults at an evening presentation on Tuesday, March 11, as well as at a day presentation on Wednesday, March 12. Both sessions will include a CCBC exhibit of the best books from the year 2007 for young readers. CCBC Director Kathleen T. Horning and her staff publish CCBC CHOICES as an annual recommended best books list. Children’s Book Fest participants will receive a free copy of the 100-page booklet as part of their registration package. Plans include an opportunity on both March 11 and 12 for individuals to purchase award-winning books highlighted by the speakers through an independent arrangement with Brown Street Books of Rhinelander. Complete registration information for Children’s Book Fest is on the WVLS Web site at http://wvls.lib.wi.us/Workshops/workshop.html. The registration fee for either session is $6.00. All registrations must be received no later than March 7. Telephone inquiries for the Wednesday presentation may be made to the Rhinelander District Library at 715/365-1070. More information about the Tuesday presentation is available from Headwaters Reading Council members Joan Belongia Mode (715/362-5111) or Colleen Konicek (715/588-3243). This is the twenty-first year that Headwaters Reading Council, the School District of Rhinelander, and the Rhinelander District Library have invited the CCBC staff to bring the newest and best books for young people to Northern Wisconsin. Local supporters of Children’s Book Fest include Brown Street Books,
M&I Bank, Ripco Credit Union and Wisconsin Public Service. Additional
assistance is received from the Indianhead Federated Library System,
Northern Waters Library Service and Wisconsin Valley Library Service.
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| Collect all the specimens a librarian could need for planning an amazing 2008 Summer Library Program. Join Patti Sinclair, editor of the Collaborative Summer Library Program Manual, as she shares tips for bug(gy) programs, decorations, promotion and crafts. | ||
| This workshop will follow the 21st Anniversary session of Children’s Book Fest, sponsored by the Headwaters Reading Council, the School District of Rhinelander and the Rhinelander District Library. Come early (browsing through the CCBC book exhibit begins at 8:30 a.m.), and stay later for the WVLS SLP workshop from 1:30 – 4:00 p.m. | |
| Please R.S.V. P. for the WVLS SLP Workshop by Friday, March 7, to Beth Sillars, sillars@wvls.lib.wi.us or 715-261-7255. If you have questions or need special accommodations, contact Beth. |
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WENDELL MINOR AND
DENISE FLEMING COMING TO WAUSAU!
Hitch a magic carpet ride to the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum and
discover a treasure trove of children’s book illustrations in the artwork of
renowned artists Wendell Minor and Denise Fleming. Wendell Minor: In the
American Tradition and Denise Fleming: Painting with Paper brings
together two artists with two distinct styles and a shared passion for creating
art for the written word. The Exhibit will run from February 2 – April
13, 2008 and, in conjunction with this, Minor and Fleming are scheduled to
provide several presentations at the Museum and at Marathon County Public
Library:
| Good News! WVLS TO OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS TO ATTEND 2008 PLA CONFERENCE Every other year public library staff, trustees and Friends from across the country – and across the globe – come together in the American Library Association’s largest conference devoted strictly to public librarianship. The Public Library Association (PLA) conferences have developed a reputation for excellence and each offers more than 100 top-quality continuation education programs from which to choose, several social events, and a bustling exhibit hall. |
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The next PLA conference
will be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota from March 25-29, 2008 (http://www.placonference.org). Because
this premier event is such an easy trek from central/northern Wisconsin,
WVLS is providing scholarships to cover registration, travel, meal and
lodging expenses for at least two public library staff members to attend
this event. A person does not need to be an ALA member or a PLA member to be eligible! For eligibility requirements and an application form, contact Linda Orcutt at 715/261-7253 or lorcutt@wvls.lib.wi.us. Application deadline is January 24, 2008. This is a wonderful opportunity to see the latest and greatest in products and services for public libraries and all qualified public library staff members in the WVLS area are strongly encouraged to apply for a scholarship. |
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CELEBRATE TEEN TECH WEEK,
MARCH 2-8! Sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association and now in its second year, Teen Tech Week is a national initiative aimed at teens, their parents, educators and other concerned adults. The purpose of the initiative is to ensure that teens are competent and ethical users of technologies, especially those that are offered through libraries. Teen Tech Week encourages teens to use libraries’ nonprint resources for education and recreation, and to recognize that librarians are qualified, trusted professionals in the field of information technology. The 2008 Teen Tech Week theme is Tune In @ Your Library. Dungeons & Dragons, a subsidiary of Wizards of the Coast, Inc., is the 2008 Corporate Sponsor for Teen Tech Week. A worldwide pop culture phenomenon for more than 30 years, Dungeons & Dragons is a game played with books, paper, pencils and now your computer. Players gather in groups to create heroic characters who journey together through a fantasy realm to discover treasure, fight monsters and triumph over adversity. Teens love D&D because it’s exciting and interactive; educators love D&D because it thrives on creativity, imagination and cooperation (with a bit of math and reading thrown in). Registration information, resources, products and more can be found
at the Teen Tech Week Web site at
http://www.ala.org/teentechweek Also check out the Teen Tech Week
Wiki for even more resources and to share your ideas at
http://wikis.ala.org/yalsa/index.php/Teen_Tech_Week) |
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LIVE WEBCAST OF TOP CHILDREN/TEEN LITERARY AWARD WINNERS ON JANUARY 14TH
The American Library Association (ALA) will provide a free live Webcast of its national announcement of the top books, video and audiobooks for children and young adults – including the Caldecott, King, Newbery and Printz awards – on January 14 at 7:45 a.m. EST (6:45 a.m. for those of us in Central Standard Time). The award winners are announced during the ALA Midwinter Meeting held in Philadelphia from January 11-16. Online visitors will be able to view the live Webcast by going to http://www.unikron.com/clients/ala-webcast-2008 the morning of the announcement. The link is not yet live, but librarians and others interested in following the action online should bookmark and use this URL instead of the ALA Web site on January 14. The number of available connections for the Webcast will be limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. The press release announcing all of the winners will be available at http://www.ala.org at 9:30 a.m. CST. Some of the awards to be announced include:
(ALA News Release; 12/18/07; http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=News&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=169667) |
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New! COOKBOOK OF TECH TIPS FOR RURAL LIBRARIANS A second online manual of useful guidelines, tips, suggestions, and plans for addressing public access computing issues in small, rural libraries has been published by MaintainIT, a project of TechSoup, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Like the first Cookbook for Small and Rural Libraries, this edition, Recipes for a 5-Star Library, offers specific “meal plans” on technology-related topics. The new guide addresses topics such as setting up, maintaining, and establishing policies for wireless networks, PC reservation and time management, public print management, and laptop checkout programs. The MaintainIT Project gathers and distributes success stories about how libraries are maintaining and supporting public computers. The tips and techniques collected from libraries are spotlighted in free guides (called Cookbooks), in articles, and on their web site, http://www.maintainitproject.org MaintainIT staff encourages users to contribute feedback and ideas, as well as participate in a new discussion forum on WebJunction (linked from the MaintainIT page). Information on the cookbooks, download options, links to the forum,
and options for participation can be found on their site at
http://maintainitproject.org/cookbooks |
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LINCOLNS FOR THE LIBRARY! You have a one in a lifetime opportunity to make penny collecting BIG. 2009 is the 200th birthday of Mr. Lincoln and Wisconsin libraries can take advantage of this special date. Start planning now for a 2008 kick off and a 2009 culmination. Besides having patrons add pennies to a collection jar, try some of the following:
Then on January 2, 2009 be ready to present your total to the public: Wow! Mr. Lincoln would be proud. |
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ABRAHAM
LINCOLN RESOURCES AVAILABLE THROUGH NEH GRANT The American Library Association and the National Endowment for the Humanities are partnering for the fifth We the People Bookshelf project. This year’s theme is Created Equal. Public and school (K-12) libraries are invited to apply online through January 25, 2008 at http://www.ala.org/wethepeople A single application may be submitted on behalf of multiple libraries within a library system, school district or community. Individual branch and school libraries are also encouraged to apply. In spring 2008, 3,000 successful applicants will receive the We the People Bookshelf, a collection of 17 classic hardcover books for young readers on the Created Equal theme. Several titles focus on the life and writings of Abraham Lincoln, whose 200th birthday will be celebrated during the 2008-2009 programming period. In addition, winning libraries will receive four titles in Spanish translation, a History in a Box resource kit on Lincoln, and accompanying materials for programming including bookplates, bookmarks and posters. For book titles, programming ideas and tips, access to the guidelines and application, and further details, visit the Web site mentioned above. |
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ASKERASER
AT ASK.COM Ask.com has launched a new service as part of their search engine web site. AskEraser is just a click away on the Ask.com main search page and it discards the computer’s Internet address and search terms once the search has ended. Ask.com is the fourth largest search engine and it is the first time that a large search company is giving individuals a choice about privacy. Emphasizing how complex it is to completely erase digital information, the information will not disappear totally. Ask.com relies on Google to deliver many of the ads that appear next to the search results and that relationship will continue. There will be increased privacy as Google is contractually limited in what it can do with the information it gets from Ask.com. Some privacy experts doubt that this feature will be a competitive advantage for Ask.com. While three fourths of Americans express a concern about privacy, only about eight percent of them routinely take steps to protect their personal information. Other privacy advocates say they hope that AskEraser will pressure Google and others to offer a similar feature. Google says the company takes privacy seriously but is not considering immediately discarding search queries. Google and Microsoft make search logs anonymous or discard them after 18 months and Yahoo! does the same after 13 months. Privacy is a major topic among librarians. This information is
provided to help you educate your patrons regarding search engines and
their differences. The staff should at least be aware of those search
engines that are making an effort at protecting privacy when assisting
patrons and talking about the importance of protecting individual
privacy. |
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NEW YEAR’S DAY TRIVIA All the trivia questions below relate to New Year’s Day in some way. Let’s see how well you ring in the New Year! 1. Which college
football bowl game was established first? |
WEB SITES OF INTEREST (tourist traps on the information superhighway!)
| Evolution of the Card
Catalog
http://www.libraryhistorybuff.org/cardcatalog-evolution.htm Library History Buff Larry Nix offers a timeline of card catalogs from 1789 to 1925. Did you know that Harvard College Librarian Thaddeus William Harris made the first reference to a card catalog in an American library in 1840? It was called a “slip catalogue” back then, and it was used at Harvard until 1912! (American Libraries Direct; January 3, 2008) Let’s Glow! Firefly-brarian
http://www.librarypalooza.net/download/glow_firefly_handout.pdf National Bird-Feeding Society
http://wildbird.com/content/nbs.basics Steal This Wireless Policy Checklist
http://maintainitproject.org/node/219/ |
The webmaster (Ann Mroczenski), found the new director (Marla Sepnafski) hard
at work and took a photo. But some strange occurrences always seem to happen in
that office. What happened between the first picture and the second?
Can you find the nine differences between these two pictures?
(hint: You may want to print them out
for easy viewing.)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
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Answers to the above Picture This Puzzle are below.
| JANUARY – NATIONAL CLEAN UP YOUR
COMPUTER MONTH – visit SpecterWeb.com’s Web site at
http://specterweb.com/tips.htm
for suggested ways to clean up your computer. January 16 – “10 Ways to Make Your Library Great in 2008 – via Web 2.0” – a one-hour WebJunction webinar – for details, visit http://www.webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=15543 January 16 – Wisconsin Way forum – James Williams Middle School Auditorium, Rhinelander – 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. – for more information, go to http://www.wisconsinway.org. This is one of a series of public gatherings around the state conducted by supporters of the Wisconsin Way in an effort to engage Wisconsin citizens in a constructive, solution-oriented conversation about what citizens can do to make Wisconsin taxes fairer and reduce the property tax burden without sacrificing the quality of public services that have made Wisconsin a special place to live and work. January 17 – iHOLA! Hispanic Outreach Training – Marathon County Public Library – 9:30 a.m. For more information, see article above. January 19 – WVLS Board of Trustees meeting – Marathon County Public Library – 9:30 a.m. January 22 – LIBRARY LEGISLATIVE DAY – http://www.wla.lib.wi.us/legis/day/. If you can’t make it to Madison, then participating in a Virtual Library Legislative Day is the next best thing. E-mail, call or write your legislator about library issues that are important to you. January 24 – Deadline to register for a WVLS scholarship to attend the Public Library Association Conference in Minneapolis, MN. For details, see article above. FEBRUARY – National Bird-Feeding Month. Visit the National Bird-Feeding Society Web site, http://www.birdfeeding.org, for information on identifying, attracting and feeding wild birds. February 3 – Super Bowl XLII – University of Phoenix Stadium, Arizona – Completed in the fall of 2006 and built specifically to showcase Arizona’s next Super Bowl, the $455 million stadium is the first to feature a retractable roof and a roll-out grass field. The grass field remains outside the stadium in the sun until game day at which time the field is rolled into the stadium on an 18.9-million-pound tray. February 7 – WVLS V-CAT Council meeting – Frances L. Simek Memorial Library, Medford – 9:30 a.m. February 29 – 2008 is a Leap Year, meaning there is a February 29th! What will you do with your extra day? March 1 – Public Library Annual Reports due to the Division for Libraries, Technology and Community Learning. March 12 – 21st annual Children’s Book Fest 2008 – Holiday Inn Express, Rhinelander – 8:30-Noon- more details about this event are included in an article above. March 12 – Catch the Reading Bug @ the WVLS SLP workshop! – Holiday Inn Express, Rhinelander – 1:30 - 4:00 p.m. – refer to the article above. March 25-29 – 12th National Public Library Association Conference - Minneapolis Convention Center. The PLA National Conference is the premier professional development event for public library staff, trustees, Friends, library vendors and others with an interest in public libraries. Bookmark http://www.placonference.org and check back often for updated information on registration, conference programming, special events, travel, and insider tips on everything Minneapolis has to offer. Also, if interested in attending this conference, contact Linda Orcutt (715/261-7253; lorcutt@wvls.lib.wi.us) for details about a WVLS scholarship to cover travel/registration costs to attend this event. |
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ANSWERS TO THE TRIVIA QUIZ 1. c. Rose Bowl, January 1, 1916 (Sugar & Orange Bowls: January 1, 1935); 2. a. the Arab Bowl; 3. a. the Rose Bowl (the Cotton Bowl was the other); 4. c. Simon & Garfunkel; 5. b. Not arguing with the referee; 6. b. Jacqueline Means; 7. b. New York; 8. c. VH-1; and 9. a. Far Side Scoring: Everyone got the same scoring message because, regardless of your
score, you should start the year off on a good note. Besides, you will
have a great new year if you believe you will and work to make it
happen. That’s all it takes, so make it happen! |
B1: The thermostat is missing.
B2-3: How did the paper turn pink?
B4-5: Those oranges look tasty.
C-2: Where did those binders come from?
C-5: Someone took items off of the bulletin board.
D3: Did Marla change her collar? The color is different.
E3: Is that a new watch?
E3: Loose a pencil?
E5: Marla has been know to acquire pens and pencils, but a whole container of pencils?
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 msepnafs@wvls.lib.wi.us |
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Contributions are welcome!
News items should be submitted by the first of the month. When the most recent issue becomes available, readers are alerted by a notice
posted to WISPUBLIB, or sent an email. 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. |
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