LOW TECH OPTION

Remember when your mom punished you for writing on your hand?
Sometimes low tech is the way to go! If you need to make a little list on a convenient body part, try out these temporary list tattoos! http://www.worldwidefred.com/todotattoo.htm

Using Technology for Balance Instead of Guilt

From The Shifted Librarian blog, a great essay on life balance, and how to make technology work for you and not just add stress to your life!
http://theshiftedlibrarian.com/archives/2008/05/22/using-technology-for-balance-instead-of-guilt.html

PC World Names the Best 100 Tech Products for 2008

Get the skinny on the latest and greatest tech products at: http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,146161/article.html

PROFESSIONAL BOOK OF THE WEEK

Title: More Teen Programs That Work
Author: RoseMary Honnold

Summary:
A follow-up to her hit 101+ Teen Programs That Work, Honnold offers up even more fun and fascinating programs targeted towards your teen population. Separated into themes, Honnold outlines what went into creating the program, what made it successful and how you can reproduce it. A must read for anyone looking for fresh new ideas on how to serve their teens.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER !

7 Things You Should Know About…

If you’re interested in quick little bites of information on upcoming and breakthrough technologies, explore the EDUCAUSE [http://www.educause.edu] 7 Things You Should Know About… series [http://www.educause.edu/7ThingsYouShouldKnowAboutSeries/7495]. Topics have included Google Apps, Twitter, Flickr, Multi-Touch Interfaces, and Creative Commons.

PROFESSIONAL BOOK OF THE WEEK

Title: Technology Made Simple: An Improvement Guide for Small and Medium Libraries
Authors: Kimberly Bolan and Robert Cullin

Summary:
If you feel overwhelmed with everything you need to do when maintaining your library’s technology resources, this guide is laid out in an easy-to-understand way for those with minimal technological skills, recognizing that few libraries have the resources to employ experts for all technology-related issues. Resources include worksheets, reference, and plans for assessing, funding and staffing IT services at your library. A companion website is available for free at http://www.ala.org/ala/ourassociation/publishing/alaeditions/webextras/technologymadesimple/technologymadesimple.cfm.

ROCK ON!

Are you, or some of your patrons, really into singing? Think you can rock out with the best of them? Gale is holding a contest for the best music video celebrating a book or author that rocks the songwriter’s world. Even better, there’s a cash prize involved! $5000!! $2500 to the songwriter and $2500 to the library they designate. But hurry, there’s a deadline of Saturday, May 31st.

For more information visit http://www.gale.cengage.com/librareo.

FREE STUFF! FREE STUFF!

We're sure some of you have probably heard about this already, but for those who haven’t, Bantam Books is giving away complimentary copies of Louis L’Amour’s memoir “Education of a Wandering Man.” So, if you don’t already have a copy, or need to freshen up the copy you do have, visit http://www.lamourcentennial.com to claim your copy today!

Professional Book of the Week

Title: Gaming & Libraries: Intersection of Services
Author: Jenny Levine

Summary:
This issue of Library Technology Reports provides reasoning on why to offer gaming programs in libraries as well as case studies of specific programs separated out by type of library. Common gaming system setups as well as examples of marketing pieces are included. This slim volume is an excellent introduction for those exploring offering this type of service.

COLLECTION MARKETING

Books don’t just fly off the shelves on their own, they need to be marketed! Connect your patrons to all of the parts of your collection, and introduce them to items they’ll probably never find on their own. Additionally, effective marketing creates a professional, vibrant and exciting physical space drawing in patrons and keeps them coming back for more! Learn some basics of collection marketing and explore the lessons bookstores and other merchants can teach us.

Want to get those gems off the shelves and out the doors? Struggling to easily connect patrons to the right item at the right time? Searching for fun ways to provide reader’s advisory services? This course if for you! Two hours (or more) hours of credit available, with two online sessions to choose from on June 13 and 20. Sign up today at http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/cgi-bin/cecat.

LAST CALL FOR "HANDS ON BLOGGING!"

If you are interested in taking this class, one session is still available on Wednesday, May 21st at the Great Prairie AEA in Ottumwa from 1 to 3 pm. Registration is available through the State Library CE catalog. Sadly, we had to cancel the sessions at the Kalona Public Library and the Mississippi Bend AEA in Bettendorf due to low registration numbers. If you are interested in seeing this class offered again at some point next CE year (July through June), please e-mail Katie Dunneback, SLS Consultant, at kdunneback@sls.lib.ia.us.

JUNE LIBRARY 101 RESCHEDULED

The June date for LIBRARY101 was originally scheduled for the 18th. SLS is moving it to Thursday, June 19th because the State Library is holding an ICN information session regarding the open source automation venture on the 18th.

So please change your calendars to JUNE 19 (9:00—12:00) and send SLS your first and second ICN choices as soon as possible.

Library 101 is an orientation for new public library directors, offered over the ICN four times each year. This 3-hour program introduces new directors to library support systems and services in Iowa. Public library service standards are also discussed, along with an explanation of statewide initiatives for libraries.

CALL FOR PRESENTERS

Gaming, Learning and Libraries Symposium Call for Presenters: http://www.techsource.ala.org/blog/2008/05/call-for-presenters-for-glls2008.html

Professional Book of the Week

Title: Going Places with Youth Outreach: Smart Marketing Strategies for Your Library
Author: Angela B. Pfeil

Summary:
I know many librarians who cringe at the term “marketing.” It can be tricky knowing where to effectively spend our time and our money. Marketing towards youths can be an even bigger challenge. Pfeil guides readers through how to think about marketing, marketing media, locations to place your marketing and more. Samples of marketing tools, as well as a brief marketing plan, are included. A perfect book for those gearing up on how to get the word out about their summer reading programs.