ILA Scholarship Opportunity

We are looking for librarians who would love to attend ILA’s annual conference in Council Bluffs October 12-13! If you’re interested in attending, go to our website at http://www.sls.lib.ia.us/Grants.htm and complete the form by August 4, 2006. Our Board will receive a listing of the answers with no personally identifiable information and will select two lucky librarians to receive a scholarship to cover all the costs of attending, including the registration fee, meals, transportation and lodging. All we ask in return is that you enjoy it and report back to the group after the conference ends.

Coming soon: Library makeover grants! Watch for more information in September.

***Reminder***

If your library submitted a technology plan for this year, please remember to send a copy to our office. (This makes it a lot easier for us to help you should something come up!)

The All Iowa Reads selection for this year (Gilead) will be available after September 15th. We will have 18 small print copies, 2 large print, 2 copies on CD and 1 on audiocassette. To arrange borrowing these for your book club or library's use, please contact Amanda at awright@sls.lib.ia.us

Thanks for reading!

'Parents As Literacy Partners' Workshop


Are you interested in extending your library’s reach into homes throughout your community? Enlist parents to be your literacy partners! Join Mary Cameron and other regional youth services librarians to discover an exciting program to train parents to work with their children for school success by promoting literacy at home. The initial sessions will outline how the program works, what will be necessary to make it successful, and what your library will need to commit to the program, as well as give you a chance to ask questions and share ideas. Actual training sessions for implementing the program will be offered at a later date, in time to get the program in place for next school year.

The sessions are free and a light breakfast will be provided. Ottumwa will host a session on August 23 and Mt. Pleasant will host a session on September 7. Register using the online continuing education catalog at http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/cgi-bin/cecat/. If you need help using or setting up your account, please contact us!

Goodbye Ruth!

Goodbye to Ruth Peterson, who's been the director of the Wilton Public Library for 10 years now. Ruth has been at the library for a total of 16. While there, she has overseen automation of the Library, the creation of a teen room and development of a teen group, among other things.

Ruth has resigned to focus on her other job full-time -- mothering. She and her husband, Gerry are the parents of 6 children, 3 still at home.

Ruth will be missed and we wish her a lot of luck in the future.

Emily's Retirement

July 8th, we had a great turn out of Southeast librarians and old friends to the Scott County Library System's library in Eldridge, Iowa for Emily Navarre's final send off into retirement. Over pictures, cake and laughter Emily reminisced over her experiences and fond memories at Southeastern Library Services, where she has been the administrator for many years. We wish her luck and fun!

Book Bags For Sale!

As most of you know, one of out services at Southeastern is selling book bags. We purchase at a discounted price and pass the deal on to you!

We have just received in our shipment for the year and have over thousands ready to go!

These bags, as seen to your right, are made of a white, durable plastic with reinforced sides and sturdy oval handles. They measure 15.5" wide and 18" high. The front (as shown) has "Love My Library", the back has the national library symbol in the same color blue medium sized.

Right now we are selling each bag for .17 cents or a box for $85.00 (500 bags are in a box). This price does not include shipping, but we ship library rate to get it as low as we can or, if we're in the area, we'd be happy to hand delivery them to you at no extra cost!

These bags:

- Make great prizes for summer reading and other library events
- Protect patrons' books on inclimate days
- Help children who ride their bikes to the library carry their books home
- Keeps books together both at home and at the library

...the possibilities are endless!

To order, call or email Amanda Wright @ awright@sls.lib.ia.us (800) 397-0029