REGISTER NOW FOR DIRECTOR'S ROUNDTABLE!!

We are in danger of canceling the Director’s Roundtable scheduled for Tuesday, March 3rd from 1 to 3 pm in Mt. Pleasant due to low registration. This is a great opportunity to learn about the updates to the Open Meetings/Open Records Act from Kim and find out what new and exciting things your neighboring libraries are doing. Registration is available through today (Friday, February 27th) at the State Library CE catalog: http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/cgi-bin/cecat/. Please take advantage of this valuable learning opportunity -- sign up today!

PROFESSIONAL BOOK OF THE WEEK

Title: Even More Great Ideas for Libraries and Friends
Authors: Sally Gardner Reed and Beth Nawalinski

Summary:
As Executive Director of Friends of Libraries USA (FOLUSA), Reed is in the unique position to see what fundraising and advocacy ideas not only work in libraries, but really work well. With Nawalinski, the Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator of FOLUSA, she has compiled 75 fabulous ideas and events with information on how you can adapt them for your library.

MARKETING VIDEO FROM MARKHAM

Here is a good library marketing tool found on YouTube:

How Markham built its new libraryYouTube, Mar. 9, 2008

Government Printing Office in Transition

Information Today reports that the Government Printing Office is in the middle of a transition to make 300,000 government documents available through a new system called FDsys. The new system is an information management system that enables GPO to gather, process, preserve, archive, and make U.S. government information available to the public. For more information on the transition, visit http://newsbreaks.infotoday.com/nbReader.asp?ArticleId=52660.

A LIBRARY MORSEL FROM PADUCAH, KY

Tasty choices @ your library The McCracken County Public Library in Paducah, Kentucky, produced this PSA (0:32) in 2006 to highlight the “scrumptious selection of choices to feed your mind at a price everyone can afford.” YouTube, Aug. 9, 2006

MARCH IS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH


In honor of March being Women's History Month here are some free resources, including downloadable bookmarks from Gale at http://www.gale.cengage.com/free_resources/whm/.

OUTFOXING THE FOXES

Here is some good information from PC World Online about outfoxing online scammers: http://www.pcworld.com/article/159708/top_9_dirty_tricks_scammers_use.html

Coupon Cutting Club

From the 2/18/09 issue of American Libraries Direct comes a great idea for providing a service during difficult economic times. The Mint Hill branch of the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, North Carolina uses staff to run the program, but smaller libraries could surely use volunteers, and then make sure to advertise, market and promote the service as yet another way libraries offer essential and efficient services. For the news clip, visit http://news14.com/content/local_news/coastal/605032/library-features-coupon-cutting-club/Default.aspx.

A New Internet?

From American Libraries Direct’s 2/18/09 edition, this article looks at the possibility of “starting over” with the Internet to reclaim security and privacy. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/weekinreview/15markoff.html

CONGRATS TO WAPELLO JR./SR. HIGH SCHOOL

The Wapello Junior/Senior High School has won a $1,500 award from Alibris to replace non-fiction books lost during last year’s flooding. For more on the story, visit
http://www.literacynews.com/news/alibris-presents-libraries-with-a-3-000-collection-award.html.

(from American Libraries Direct, 2/18/2009)

DIRECTOR'S ROUNTABLE REGISTRATION DEADLINE EXTENDED

We have extended the registration period for this year’s Directors’ Roundtables. As a reminder, we do require a minimum of 8 registrations for in person continuing education events to hold the event.

In addition to discussing current issues, programs and other concerns with your fellow library directors, Kim will be presenting the updates to the Open Meetings/Open Records legislation. These sessions are a great way to stimulate ideas to bring back to your libraries.

Mt. Pleasant Public Library – 2nd floor Community Room
Tuesday, March 3rd – Registration deadline Friday, February 27th
1 pm to 3 pm

Ottumwa Public Library
Thursday, March 5th – Registration deadline Tuesday, March 3rd
10 am to 12 pm

Registration is available through the State Library’s CE catalog at http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/cgi-bin/cecat/index.cgi.

Please contact Katie Dunneback at kdunneback@sls.lib.ia.us with any questions.

PROFESSIONAL BOOK OF THE WEEK

Title: From Outreach to Equity: Innovative Models of Library Policy and Practice
Editor: Robin Osborne

Summary:
Outreach, in tough economic times, can be a hard service to justify. However, it is also one of the easiest ways to build community goodwill and develop non-library users into library users by going to where they are. Split into six main topic areas (services outside library walls, outreach inside the library, outreach using information technology, technical services, advocacy and outreach, and staff development), the essays included in this slim volume are packed with ideas on how to grow your services.

DES MOINES ZOO'S INCENTIVES HELP IOWA LIBRARIES

The Blank Park Zoo of Des Moines has generously offered to give libraries throughout Iowa free zoo passes to use as incentives during the Summer Library Program. The zoo is also offering outreach programs based on this year’s theme that they can bring to your library. The cost is $75.00 plus mileage ($0.485 cents per mile) to and from the program.
If you have questions or would like to book a program contact Haley Anderson, Education Specialist/Community Relations, Blank Park Zoo, 515-974-2550, haanderson@blankparkzoo.org

If you are interested in Blank Park Zoo passes to use as incentives during your summer program please use the link to the survey below to let us know your library information and how many zoo passes you will need for the summer. The zoo passes will be distributed by the Central Iowa Library Service Area, so please contact Sarah Willeford at swilleford@cilsa.lib.ia.us if you have any questions regarding the zoo passes.

Link to Blank Park Zoo Pass Survey http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=dDRzYDSeCF_2fVmScF16aqPA_3d_3d

PROFESSIONAL BOOK OF THE WEEK

Title: Fundraising Ideas: Over 225 Money Making Events for Community Groups, with a Resource Directory
Author: Janell Shride Amos

Summary:
In this time of budget crunching, we’re all looking around for alternative revenue streams. Amos provides a full list of ideas, along with tips on how to implement them. Even if none of the included ideas are your cup of tea, skimming through them should be enough to get your creative fundraising juices flowing!

State Library Opens "KIDS FIRST" Conference Registration

The KIDS FIRST conference registration is open and available. Information on how to sign up is below. SLS will be offering a scholarship this year...more information regarding that is forthcoming. Please contact the SLS office if you have any questions.

Here’s the link: http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/ld/youth-services/kidsfirst/kf2009.
Scroll down to the very last page for the registration form.
Print it off and send it (and your money) to Fran at the State Library of Iowa.
All the information is there.