A "HodgePodge" of Online Goodies !

Fun New Way to Promote Online Pathfinding and Literacy
It’s a lesson, it’s a game, it’s PMOG: Passively Multiplayer Online Game! What it could be is a fun way to promote online and information literacy, as well as online information resources. Find out more at http://library20.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=515108%3ABlogPost%3A78675.

Narrative Nonfiction: If You Recommend Books, Read This!
A new “genre” is emerging in the Reader’s Advisory arena, Narrative Nonfiction. To learn more about the genre and how it may or may not be part of your catalog, visit http://laureltarulli.wordpress.com/2008/05/26/narrative-nonfiction-%e2%80%93-a-new-genre-heading/

Library Video Promote Summer Reading (and it’s hilarious, too)
Looking for a new way to promote your library program? Here’s an example of how to have fun and do promotion at the same time! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqBl2lV6dEQ

Have Vending Machines? Make them greener!
From a blog called “Going Green @ Your Library” (whoops, hope they cleared that with ALA), learn how to make vending machines more energy efficient, and maybe help you save a few bucks, too. http://greeningyourlibrary.wordpress.com/2008/05/26/vending-machines/

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.

FREE "PDF" EDITOR

In addition to Open Office (http://www.openoffice.org/ ) at home, we dumped Adobe’s free reader and downloaded this gem. It allows editing, notes, and more. You can save your changes as well – with any PDF, not just those set up that way with Adobe! http://www.docu-track.com/home/prod_user/PDF-XChange_Tools/pdfx_viewer/

For libraries on a software budget, these are free (open source) solutions. No upgrade fees with more function! Open Source isn’t for everyone and there are drawbacks (remember the saying, “there’s no such thing as a free lunch”?), including a change in the user interface which might cause your patrons a little time learning it.

Please contact us at (800) 397-0029 if you have questions about using these products.

SLS ANNOUNCES CLASSES FOR MAY

May is right around the corner! Here are some of the classes SLS is offering during that month. As always, registration is available through the State Library CE Catalog at http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/cgi-bin/cecat/index.cgi.

LEARN HOW TO LEARN ONLINE
CE Credit: 1

Interested in attending an upcoming online course? Want to know strategies on how to maximize your learning experience? Join us as we demonstrate the tools you'll be using in the online classes. A microphone headset is required for this course. Other technical requirements will be sent to attendees prior to the session.

**Special note for SLS libraries, we still have some microphone headsets available for any library which has not already claimed one. E-mail me if you are taking one of our online classes and need a set.

Thursday, May 1st
SLS Wimba room
2 pm to 3 pm

SOUTHEASTERN SMALL LIBRARIES CONFERENCE
CE Credit: 3

In small libraries, you have to do it all. Join us as we welcome Valerie Haverhals, Director of the Hawarden Public Library, to hear how she deals with funding, board relations and community relations issues. Part of the session will also be spent on developing action plans for the next six months.

Thursday, May 1st
Eddyville Public Library
9 am to 12 pm

RA RECAP
CE Credit: 2

Course will present new trends, books, and authors librarians should be aware of while advising adult readers.

Tuesday, May 6th
Sigourney Public Library
2 pm to 4 pm

Thursday, May 8th
Musser Public Library (Muscatine)
10 am to 12 pm

Tuesday, May 20th
SLS Wimba room
2 pm to 4 pm

STORYTIME STRATEGIES: PRINT AWARENESS
CE Credit: 1+
As part of the Every Child Ready to Read initiative, six characteristics of a child who is ready to read on their own have been identified. Strategies to emphasize individual characteristics can be incorporated into storytime planning. Print Awareness is "knowing how to handle a book, and noticing print all around us." Strategies for incorporating this skill into your storytimes, along with how to communicate it to caregivers, will be covered.
Online courses offered by SLS require prior attendance at a Learn How to Learn Online class as well as a microphone headset.
Wednesday, May 7th
SLS Wimba room
10 am to 11 am

Thursday, May 15th
SLS Wimba room
2 pm to 3 pm

STORYTIME STRATEGIES: LETTER KNOWLEDGE
CE Credit: 1+
As part of the Every Child Ready to Read initiative, six characteristics of a child who is ready to read on their own have been identified. Strategies to emphasize individual characteristics can be incorporated into storytime planning. Letter Knowledge is "knowing that letters are different from each other and the same letter can look different ways. It is also knowing that letters relate to sounds." Strategies for incorporating this skill into your storytimes, along with how to communicate it to caregivers, will be covered.
Online courses offered by SLS require prior attendance at a Learn How to Learn Online class as well as a microphone headset.
Tuesday, May 13th
SLS Wimba room
2 pm to 3 pm

Thursday, May 22nd
SLS Wimba room
10 am to 11 am

HANDS ON BLOGGING
CE Credit: 2

Learn how easy it is to start your own blog! Participants in the class will get hands on instruction on starting their own blog using the free blog service, Blogger. If you've ever considered using a blog for your library, but didn't think you had time to learn how to do it effectively, this class will cover all the basics you need to know from starting an account to posting with pictures.

Wednesday, May 14th
Kalona Public Library
10 am to 12 pm

Friday, May 16th
Mississippi Bend AEA – Bettendorf
10 am to 12 pm

Wednesday, May 21st
Great Prairie AEA – Ottumwa
1 pm to 3 pm

Also, the SLS office will be closed on Monday, May 26th in observance of Memorial Day. Please call or e-mail Katie Dunneback, SLS Consultant, at 800-397-0029 or kdunneback@sls.lib.ia.us if you have any questions!

PROFESSIONAL BOOK OF THE WEEK

Title: Coaching in the Library: A management Strategy for Achieving Excellence
Author: Ruth F. Metz

Summary:
If you’re looking to switch up your management style, maybe work on developing a championship team, consider exploring the coaching lifestyle. Metz includes thorough examples of how to apply her coaching/management style to real world situations. Being an effective manager means finding the style that gets the most results in a way where everyone feels it’s been a win-win situation, and coaching just may be the style that gets you there.

PROFESSIONAL BOOK OF THE WEEK

Title: Managing Facilities for Results: Optimizing Space for Services
Author: Cheryl Bryan

Summary:
How a library utilizes its space defines the mood the library projects. In a time where we would like to create spaces that welcome our community and encourage social and educational interactions, space planning can be an overwhelming concept. Fear not! If you are considering a reorganization of your existing space, or are thinking about the potential for expansion, this book will guide you through the many considerations that go into space planning.

PROFESSIONAL BOOK OF THE WEEK

Title: The Virtual Reference Handbook: Interview and Information Delivery Techniques for the Chat and E-mail Environments
Author: Diane K. Kovacs

Summary:
Providing virtual reference service can be quite frustrating as we’re very used to having an information-seeking patron right in front of us. For those offering e-mail or live chat reference service, Kovacs outlines useful strategies to be used in these environments. These strategies will help to lessen the frustration experience by both the librarian and the patron and take your virtual reference service to the next level.

SLS ANNOUNCES APRIL CLASSES

We have a bunch of classes up and available for you to take during this lovely month of April. Two are even closing for registration at the beginning of next week. Be sure to sign up as soon as possible to reserve your space. As always, classes offered by SLS are posted to the State Library CE Catalog at http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/cgi-bin/cecat/index.cgi.

LET’S 2.0: WIKIS
CE Credits: 1

Do you still keep a notebook at the reference desk for issues/intriguing questions? Are you looking for an online collaborative workspace you can access from anywhere? Wikis are best known thanks to Wikipedia, but they can be powerful tools for the right situations. Online service PBWiki used for the development of the "IRead" and "Teaching Computers to the Public" websites will be demonstrated. This is an online class which requires completion of "Learn How to Learn Online". A microphone headset is required for this course. Other technical requirements will be sent to attendees prior to the session.

Monday, April 14th
SLS Wimba room
2 pm to 3 pm

Monday, April 21st
SLS Wimba room
10 am to 11 am

STORYTIME STRATEGIES: NARRATIVE SKILLS
CE Credits: 1+

As part of the Every Child Ready to Read initiative, six characteristics of a child who is ready to read on their own have been identified. Strategies to emphasize individual characteristics can be incorporated into storytime planning. Narrative skills is "the ability to describe things and to talk about events and tell stories." Strategies for incorporating this skill into your storytimes, along with how to communicate it to caregivers, will be covered.

Online courses offered by SLS require prior attendance at a Learn How to Learn Online class as well as a microphone headset.

Tuesday, April 15th
SLS Wimba room
10 am to 11 am

Thursday, April 24th
SLS Wimba room
2 pm to 3 pm

STORYTIME STRATEGIES: VOCABULARY
CE Credits: 1+

As part of the Every Child Ready to Read initiative, six characteristics of a child who is ready to read on their own have been identified. Strategies to emphasize individual characteristics can be incorporated into storytime planning. Vocabulary is the skill of "knowing the names of things, not just things, but concepts, feelings, and ideas." Strategies for incorporating this skill into your storytimes, along with how to communicate it to caregivers, will be covered.

Online courses offered by SLS require prior attendance at a Learn How to Learn Online class as well as a microphone headset.

Wednesday, April 16th
SLS Wimba room
2 pm to 3 pm

FREE DATABASES FOR LIBRARIES
CE Credits: 1

As reference books become more and more obsolete because of the wealth of information available electronically, how do we steer our patrons to the best sources of information on the web on a budget? Join us and explore free (and a few low cost) online databases, learn how to market them, and play a little seek and find game with them!

All SLS courses offered online require a microphone headset.

Tuesday, April 29th
SLS Wimba room
10 am to 11 am

Wednesday, April 30th
SLS Wimba room
2 pm to 3 pm

Please contact Katie Dunneback, SLS Consultant, if you have any questions about any of our classes.

APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH - Celebrate!

Ten years ago, Knopf publisers began a tradition. To celebrate National Poetry Month, they sent a poem a day by e-mail for 30 days to anyone who asked to receive them. Now, with over 35,000 subscribers, they are proud to continue with a whole new series of daily poems. Each day during the month of April you would receive a poem from some of the best poets in the world including Mark Strand, Mary Jo Salter, Julia Hartwig, and Richard Kenney, as well as classics from Frank O'Hara, Rudyard Kipling, Kenneth Koch and more. This year, they'll also be featuring special podcasts, gorgeous printable broadsides, and signed books.
If you know of someone who might like to join the Poem-a-Day party, they may visit http://www.randomhouse.com/knopf/poetry/poemaday/ to sign up.

SIGOURNEY ADVERTISES FOR NEW LIBRARY DIRECTOR

The Sigourney Public Library is looking for a new Library Director. The position will be 37.5 hours per week @ $11.00/hour, and includes health insurance benefits. The Sigourney Public Library is a beautiful, newly remodeled 7,000 square foot facility with a nice Children’s Area and eight public access computers. We have wireless internet, a collection of over 19,000 items including books, audio books, DVD’s, and CD’s, and two part time library associates. If you are interested in applying for the position of Library Director, send resumes by April 21 to:

Attention: Tony Pitsch, Board President
Sigourney Public Library
720 East Jackson
Sigourney, Iowa, 52591

Or e-mail your resume to: sigopl@lisco.com.

FAIRFIELD ADVERTISES FOR YOUTH SERVICES LIBRARIAN

Fairfield Public Library has an opening for a Youth Services Librarian. This is a fulltime salaried position starting at $28,630 with excellent benefits including health insurance, retirement, paid sick leave, and three weeks paid vacation.

Our Youth Services Department is a busy and beloved place. Special programs range from Valentine Tea to Summer Reading Program to Teen Mystery Night. Our staff is supportive of youth programs, young patrons are a high priority, and our Volunteer Center coordinator helps to recruit volunteer support. We recently installed new automation system, and you may visit our website at www.fairfield.lib.ia.us .

If you are the successful candidate, you will become the “face of the library” for local parents, teachers, and children. This means you will provide outreach to our schools and day care centers, where you will connect with children and teens. Primary focus will be on programming, collection development, teaching library skills, and offering reader advisory service. In addition, you will provide backup when our Library Director is absent and help sometimes at the circulation desk.

Qualifications and skills required:
· MLS is preferred. Candidates who have combined an educational degree with relevant experience are also encouraged to apply.
· Energetic advocate for children and teens
· Able to relate well to children of all ages and their parents
· Able to plan and produce quality programs for youth

Attitudes desired:
· Enthusiasm for working with youth
· Love of reading
· Good sense of humor
· Desire to serve the public
· Creativity, flexibility, and cooperation

Please send your resume, cover letter, and three professional references to:
Rebecca Huggins, Director
Fairfield Public Library
104 West AdamsFairfield, IA 52556

ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND CO. GRANT AVAILABLE

Archer Daniels Midland Company has announced a call for Community Grant Applications. The Deadline for applications is June 30, 2008.

Continuing its commitment to strengthening American agricultural communities, Archer Daniels Midland Company ( http://admworld.com/ ) is accepting applications for its 2008 Community Partnership Grant Program. The program will award up to four grants of $10,000 each for community-improvement projects in cities and towns where ADM operates.
The program will award grants to qualified tax-exempt, nonprofit, educational, or community organizations in ADM communities. In order to be eligible to receive a grant, applicants must apply on behalf of a public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, not a private foundation under section 509(a).
Complete program information, including submission guidelines and an application, is available at the ADM Web site.
RFP Link:
http://fconline.foundationcenter.org/pnd/15012266/admworld
For additional RFPs in Community Improvement/Development, visit:
http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/cat_community_development.jhtml

IRS Stimulus Package Information

SLS Consultant, Katie Dunneback, came across this over the weekend and thought quite a few of you may be dealing with questions on this topic. If you haven’t already seen it, the IRS has a page dedicated to information relating to the economic stimulus package, including the payment schedule (based on the last two digits of your social security number) and calculators for how much you might expect to receive.

Stimulus package central: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=177937,00.html
Payment schedule: http://www.irs.gov/irs/article/0,,id=180250,00.html

COPYRIGHT QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Pesky copyright questions? A new tool helps SLS answer them for you! At the PLA conference in March, SLS purchased two of the copyright “sliders”. To see the tool and find out how to order one for your library, visit http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=421.

Student’s Library-Funding Project Wins Science Scholarship

Eighteen-year-old Xiaomeng Zeng, a senior at Iowa City’s West High School, won seventh place (a $20,000 scholarship) in the national Intel Science Talent Search competition for her study on whether public library funding from government sources adversely affects funding from private sources, or vice versa.

TO BLOG, OR NOT TO BLOG?
THAT IS THE QUESTION!

Do you blog? 10 questions to ask yourself before you hit “post”.
http://www.copyblogger.com/10-blogging-questions/

91 Utilities to Supercharge Windows

PC Magazine announced their list at http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2279207,00.asp.

PROFESSIONAL BOOK OF THE WEEK

Title: Teaching Web Search Skills: Techniques and Strategies of Top Trainers
Author: Greg R. Notess

Summary:
For those of you looking to create a class for the public on how to search the web, or even do a staff training session on the topic, Notess’ book provides you with a great deal of information from understanding who your audience is, what topics to focus on, terminology to use, concepts to cover and tons more. Appendices including sample handouts, the list of URLs referenced in the book and contact information for the trainers interviewed are sheer gold. This book is essential reading for computer trainers.

2008 PLA Conference in Minneapolis, MN

For those who attended the PLA conference, be sure to fill out the evaluation form now up on the Conference’s main page: http://www.placonference.org.

If you were not able to go, or had to choose among sessions you really wanted to see, be sure to check out the postings at both the PLA Blog (http://plablog.org/) and attendee Rick Roche’s blog, Ricklibrarian (http://ricklibrarian.blogspot.com/).

Professional Book of the Week

Title: 101+ Teen Programs that Work
Author: RoseMary Honnold

Summary:
RoseMary Honnold has developed a thriving teen community through her job at the Coshocton Public Library and shares the lessons she’s learned through her many years as the YA librarian there. You may have heard RoseMary speak at the 2007 Kids First Conference, and wanted to learn more about how some of her programs worked. If you’re looking for programming of all kinds specific to teens, this is a book you need to see.

BOOKMARKS GOING FAST

We have had an overwhelming response to our blog about the bookmarks SLS offers for sale. As a result, we have completely SOLD OUT of the BUG-themed bookmarks! Unfortunately, the company that stocked these for us has gone out of business, so what we have left is all we have. There are still a variety of the flower markers left, and several of the "Dove" and "Sun, Moon, Stars". If you are interested in these nifty Spring gift ideas, please e-mail Ann Miller, SLS Office Manager, at amiller@sls.lib.ia.us.

CE HEAD'S-UP: Free Databases and Marketing!

Two classes have just been added to the State Library CE Catalog. You’ve probably seen them on your calendar and now you can register for them!

FREE DATABASES FOR LIBRARIES
CE Credit: 1

As reference books become more and more obsolete because of the wealth of information available electronically, how do we steer our patrons to the best sources of information on the web on a budget? Join us and explore free (and a few low cost) online databases, learn how to market them, and play a little seek and find game with them!

SLS Wimba Room
Tuesday, April 29th
10 am to 11 am

SLS Wimba Room
Wednesday, April 30th
2 pm to 3 pm

GET IT OFF THE SHELF! MARKETING YOUR LIBRARY COLLECTIONS
CE Credits: 2

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.

SLS Wimba Room
Friday, June 13th
10 am to 12 pm

SLS Wimba Room
Friday, June 20th
1 pm to 3 pm

As always, the State Library CE catalog is available at: http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/cgi-bin/cecat/index.cgi

PROFESSIONAL BOOK OF THE WEEK

Title: Something Musical Happened at the Library: Adding Song and Dance to Children’s Story Programs
Author: Rob Reid

Summary:
Are you looking to freshen up your storytimes by adding songs? Maybe you want to freshen up the songs you already are using. Reid has compiled a comprehensive listing of books, songs and dances which can be combined to create an interactive and fun storytime program.

LEGISLATIVE DAY 2008 PHOTOS ARE IN!

Katie Dunneback, SLS Consultant, was kind enough to share these photos from the most recent Legislative Day event held in Des Moines, IA. Enjoy!

SHOW OFF YOUR LIBRARY

Here is your library's opportunity for that 15 minutes-plus of fame! If you have an exterior digital photo of your library, send it along to us. Kim would like to add a slide show to our web page of SLS libraries. You may send those to kkietzman@sls.lib.ia.us.

Speaker Announced for Southeastern Small Libraries Conference

We are pleased to announce that Valerie Haverhals, Director of the Hawarden Public Library will be our speaker at this year’s Southeastern Small Libraries Conference. Registration is now available at the State Library CE Catalog and this event is FREE!

Southeastern Small Libraries Conference
CE Credits: 3

In small libraries, you have to do it all. Join us as we welcome Valerie Haverhals, Director of the Hawarden Public Library, to hear how she deals with funding, board relations and community relations issues. Part of the session will also be spent on developing action plans for the next six months.

Thursday, May 1st
9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Eddyville Public Library

State Library CE Catalog: http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/cgi-bin/cecat/index.cgi

LIBRARIES MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Sent in by Eddyville Public Library: a great testament to how libraries engage and inspire youth! Read this young man’s letter to the editor from the Ottumwa Courier on February 20, 2008 at: http://www.ottumwacourier.com/archivesearch/local_story_051222633.html.

BITS - N - PIECES:

Cancer survivorship notebooks for public librariesALA is collaborating with the Lance Armstrong Foundation to provide public libraries with reference materials to better serve those seeking cancer information. Last week, the LAF began shipping Livestrong Survivorship Notebooks to more than 14,200 libraries. The notebooks are designed to help cancer survivors, their families, and caregivers organize, retain, and access important information related to their cancer experiences. Libraries that have not received a notebook by March 31 can request one from Kelli Craddock....

The flexible future of e-booksKarl McGoldrick is the CEO of Netherlands-based Polymer Vision, the only company that right now is working on making e-books in a form that’s actually close to traditional books—ones that are mobile, bendable, and, above all, readable. But the device, called Readius, is not just an e-book reader—it receives email, text messages, and RSS feeds, makes phone calls, and keeps calendar and contact information—in addition to downloading books and newspapers wirelessly....CNet news, Mar. 12

20 things to watch (PDF file) Stephen Abram writes: “So, what’s on my list of things to pay extra special attention to? When we’re deluged, swamped, and overwhelmed by news and blog postings and other media, what do I use as my filter to trap just the important stuff that will matter to libraries?” Here are his recommendations, in no particular order....

69 techie uses for duct tapeAs one of the world’s most useful products, pretty much everyone loves duct tape, but techies seem to have a special place in their hearts for the versatile adhesive. From the practical (fix your printer) to the slightly silly (personalize your shoelaces), here is a list of some of the best techie uses for duct tape....Virtual Hosting, Mar. 11

Librarian III: The Curse of the Judas ChaliceTNT has begun production on the third installment of its “Librarian” franchise, with Noah Wyle reprising his title role in The Librarian: The Curse of the Judas Chalice. After a series of dreams leads Flynn Carsen (Wyle), a librarian at the New York Metropolitan Library, to New Orleans (where the film began production in early March), he gets tangled up in a conspiracy involving both the chalice and the legendary vampire Count Dracula....Zap2It, Mar. 6

PROFESSIONAL BOOK OF THE WEEK


Title: Measuring Your Library’s Value: How to Do a Cost-Benefit Analysis for Your Public Library
Author: Donald S. Elliott, et. al.

Summary:
With the pressure to justify funding ever present, this book helps you to determine whether a Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) is appropriate to your situation. Explanations on then how to do one are provided in clear, “librarian-friendly” language. Anyone who is looking for new ways to tell the library story would be well-served by examining what this book has to contribute.

Professional Book of the Week


Title: Staffing for Results: A Guide to Working Smarter
Author: Diane Mayo and Jeanne Goodrich

Summary:
If you are considering the reallocation of staff resources for the upcoming fiscal year, this is an excellent tool to help you determine where staff time is best spent. As part of the Planning for Results series, Mayo and Goodrich provide tools for a systematic analysis of work activities in a library. Thirteen customizable workforms are included to help you implement the strategies outlined in the book.

Bookmarks Available through Southeastern Library Services

Bookmarks make great gifts, adult prizes and library sale items. Choose to buy as few, or as many, as you'd like. We still have many bugs left - perfect for Summer Reading Program prizes!

Pricing:
$ 1.25 each
$12.00 for 10
$22.00 for 20

You can specify the style/design while supplies last.
Order yours today by contacting Ann Miller at amiller@sls.lib.ia.us.


Styles available:
Dove; Sun, Moon, Stars; Bees; Butterflies; Dragonfly; Ladybugs; Daylily; Iris; Lily; Narcissus; Pansy; Sunflower; Rose; Tulip.

Get Your Information from the “Info Café”

The Reference Department of the Davenport Public Library is please to announce the creation of a new blog entitled, “Info Café.” A blog is an online journal that encourages comments and postings from its readers. The Library invites the public to visit the Info Café as a resource for information, focusing on reader’s advisory (good reads, viewing, and listening recommendations) and other reference news, tips, and helpful websites. You can access this blog by going to the following web address: http://blogs.davenportlibrary.com/reference, or link to it from the Library’s website at www.davenportlibrary.com.

PROFESSIONAL BOOK OF THE WEEK

Title: A Place at the Table: Participating in Community Building
Author: Kathleen de la Peña McCook

Summary:
Our strongest advocates are our community members. Without community support, libraries will find it hard to obtain and continue to receive funding. Sometimes, help is needed in building and sustaining a library-supportive community. McCook explores the need to have the voice of a librarian present in all areas of a home community, from local and state government to the schools and to the volunteer and civic organizations. If libraries have a place at every table, we build a community not just of library users, but also, library supporters who can be our most effective advocates.

Old Stuff is Fun!

The Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center of the Davenport Public Library Main Street location (321 Main Street) has created a new weblog (or “blog”) entitled, “Primary Selections from Special Collections.” Patrons can view this blog by visiting the Center’s website at http://www.qcmemory.org/, or by linking directly to the blog by typing: http://blogs.davenportlibrary.com/sc.

This new blog showcases interesting items from the Library’s local history and genealogy collections, including many photographs (check out the “Image ‘O the Week”). Other items on the blog include Davenporters of note, urban legends (and the debunking thereof), and news about recently acquired local history and genealogy resources.

For more information about this exciting technology, contact the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center at 563-326-7902.

Legislative Day, March 1

We hope many of you will be able to join us in Des Moines on Tuesday, March 11th for Legislative Day. The Legislative Day briefing will begin at 2:30 pm with the reception to follow from 4 to 6 pm.

Katie will be driving a 15-passenger van from the Quad Cities and can pick up 14 people along the I-80 corridor. You can reserve your seat by registering at the State Library CE catalog: http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/cgi-bin/cecat/.

Once we’ve got everyone registered, we'll determine pick-up locations and times. Please e-mail or call Katie Dunneback, Consultant, at kdunneback@sls.lib.ia.us or 800-398-0029 if you have any questions.

FOUNDATION LOCATOR

Carla Lehn from the California State Library in Sacramento writes:

"For another project I've been working on, I discovered this handy website. From a map of the U.S. you can click to locate community foundations in your state. Then, clicking on the Foundation's name will give you more information about the Foundation's interests, and help you understand whether you might be eligible for a grant from them!"

http://www.cof.org/Locator/

Professional Book of the Week

Title: The Thriving Library: Successful Strategies for Challenging Times
Author: Marylaine Block

Summary:
Block, author of the website Neat New Stuff I Found on the Net, explores strategies and programs which help libraries thrive in trying economic times. Chapters are broken into service areas and tasks such as children, teens, marketing, outreach and community involvement. Case studies are used to highlight points about each topic. A useful guide for any library serving the public today.

CRAFTY LIBRARIANS

We wanted to highlight a program we’ll be having at the end of the month. It’s time to let loose your creative juices and share your storytime crafts with your fellow children’s librarians!

SOUTHEASTERN LIBRARIES STORYTIME CRAFT FAIR
3 CE Credits

Have a great craft you want to share with other libraries? Need some fresh ideas to use in your storytimes? Join us for a hands-on craft fair! Libraries will have tables set up where they can demonstrate a craft or two and attendees can practice making the craft. If you are interested in demonstrating, please contact Katie Dunneback at kdunneback@sls.lib.ia.us.

**UPDATE: Please be prepared to demonstrate a craft if you register for this class. Contact Katie for more information.

Thursday, February 28th
Richland Public Library
1 to 4 pm

You can sign up for all of our CE offerings at the State Library CE catalog at: http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/cgi-bin/cecat/.

GETTING BUGGY

Are you getting psyched for your library’s summer reading program? Are you looking for some bug-related decorations? SLS has recently received the following die cuts from Ellison for you to choose from as part of our die cut service:

Grass Patch - http://www.ellison.com/shop/?p=product_detail&itemnum=17456
Bee - http://www.ellison.com/shop/?p=product_detail&itemnum=12226
Cocoon - http://www.ellison.com/shop/?p=product_detail&itemnum=12856
Dragonfly - http://www.ellison.com/shop/?p=product_detail&itemnum=13150
3 Part Tree, Bare - http://www.ellison.com/shop/?p=product_detail&itemnum=15155
Firefly - http://www.ellison.com/shop/?p=product_detail&itemnum=17940
Ladybug #1 - http://www.ellison.com/shop/?p=product_detail&itemnum=18171
Basic Beginnings Butterfly - http://www.ellison.com/shop/?p=product_detail&itemnum=20554
Basic Beginnings Leaf - http://www.ellison.com/shop/?p=product_detail&itemnum=20574
Basic Beginnings Caterpillar - http://www.ellison.com/shop/?p=product_detail&itemnum=21240
Butterfly #4 - http://www.ellison.com/shop/?p=product_detail&itemnum=23787

You can find out more details about the service and place your order here: http://www.sls.lib.ia.us/sls-services/diecut.

Date Change for Let's 2.0: Wikis Class

Pull out your paper CE calendars for April as there has been a change in date for one of the classes. The Let’s 2.0: Wikis class originally scheduled for Tuesday, April 22nd from 10 to 11 am has been moved to Monday, April 21st from 10 to 11 am. Please let our Consultant, Katie Dunneback, know if you have any questions.

PROFESSIONAL BOOK OF THE WEEK

Title: Flannelboard Stories for Infants and Toddlers: Bilingual Edition
Authors: Ann Carlson & Mary Carlson

Summary:
For anyone who may be struggling with developing flannelboard-storytimes for infants and toddlers, for both English- and Spanish-speaking populations, this is a very easy book to use. Reproducible patterns for flannel objects are situated on top of the accompanying text for the story, and the English text is next to the Spanish text. Split into skill set flannels and traditional chants and rhymes, you’ll find a wide range of ideas to choose from.

Deadline Approaches for New Children's and YA Literature ICN Session

The registration deadline for the New Children’s and YA Literature ICN session is this Wednesday, 2/13. Please contact Katie Dunneback, Consultant, if you have any questions.

NEW CHILDRENS’S & YA LITERATURE
3 CE Credits
Join us for this year's edition of a perennial favorite! The presenters will share some of the best - and a few of the worst - preschool through young adult books published in 2007. You must be registered by February 7th in order to receive the handouts prior to the class.
**NOTE: When registering, look for event number NC&YL-SLS08

Wednesday, February 20th
ICN sites:
Bettendorf High School
Mississippi Bend AEA (9) – Bettendorf
Pleasant Valley High School
Great River AEA (16) – Burlington
Columbus Junction PL
Davenport North High School
North Scott Senior High School
Ft. Madison High School
Louisa Muscatine Jr/Sr High School
Muscatine High School
Oskaloosa PL
Southern Prairie AEA (15) – Ottumwa
Wilton Jr/Sr High School
8:30 am to 12 pm

You can sign up for all of our CE offerings at the State Library CE catalog at: http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/cgi-bin/cecat/.

Faye's New Blog

Faye Clow, recently retired Director at Bettendorf Library and Information Center, has a new blog to supplement About Books, her long-running radio show on WVIK Public Radio. Listen to broadcasts, get recommendations from Faye’s personal collection, and more at http://aboutbooks-faye.blogspot.com/.

MARCH CE CLASSES ANNOUNCED

March is certainly set to roar in like a lion this year! Lots and lot of CE classes to choose from are coming your way.

LEARN HOW TO LEARN ONLINE
1 CE credit

Interested in attending an upcoming online course? Want to know strategies on how to maximize your learning experience? Join us as we demonstrate the tools you'll be using in the online classes. Technical requirements will be sent out after you have registered. A microphone headset is required.

Thursday, March 6th
SLS Online Classroom
2 pm to 3 pm

THE FUN AND FACTS OF EARLY LITERACY WITH SAROJ GHOTING
6 CE credits

Enhance your storytimes by incorporating information for parents/caregivers into them. Includes early literacy research, examples of the development of each of the six early literacy skills for newborn to five-year-olds, techniques for planning storytimes that reach adults and children and specific ideas for doing so. Why address parents and caregiers? How does this approach change your storytimes? How can your early literacy enhanced storytimes become a catalyst for change in your community? Based on the Every Child Ready to Read @ your library project. Hands-on practice developing a literacy-enhanced storytime by building on what they already do in storytimes.

Thursday, March 6th
North Liberty Community Library
8:30 am to 4:30 pm

2008 TEEN SUMMER LIBRARY PROGRAM WORKSHOP
3 CE credits
Join librarians from across the state and start planning your 2008 teen summer reading program -- Metamorphosis @ Your Library. Courtney Alfaro, from the West Des Moines Public Library and avid teen librarian, will share ideas and tips about working with teens and planning a summer program in your library.
Be sure to bring your 2008 summer library program teen manual with you to the workshop.
Registration and morning refreshments start at 8:30 am. Program begins at 9:00 am.
Tuesday, March 11th
North Liberty Community Center
9 am to 12 pm

You can sign up for all of our CE offerings at the State Library CE catalog at: http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/cgi-bin/cecat/.

TEEN TECH WEEK

Teen Tech Week is March 2-8 this year, and there's still time to order posters, pens, bookmarks, CD cases and more to raise awareness and help teens discover your cutting-edge resources.

Order Teen Tech Week products here!

2008 Financial Assistance for Library and Information Studies Directory

Need additional financial assistance to attend a library graduate program? The 2008 Financial Assistance for Library and Information Studies Directory is an annual directory of awards from state library agencies, national and state library associations, local libraries, academic institutions and foundations that give some form of financial assistance for undergraduate and/or graduate education programs in library and information studies. The directory is available online at http://tinyurl.com/284fvf.

VISTA information

For those of you with computers running Vista, or those considering buying new Windows-based computers, Wired Magazine is reporting Vista Service Pack 1 will be rolled out in March. You can read more about it here: http://blog.wired.com/monkeybites/2008/02/microsoft-set-t.html.

72 Tips for Safer Computing

From the basics to the extreme, here are the tricks that will keep your computer, you, and your family secure and safe.

Visit http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2254028,00.asp for information on how to secure your library’s computers from Internet (and other) based threats.

LIBRARY COOKING

Now there are two Cookbooks you can download and use to keep public computers running in your library! Packed with tips and techniques from public librarians from across the country, inside each Cookbook you’ll find practical information covering a variety of topics.

A huge THANK YOU goes out to everyone who contributed their experiences (find out who shared their stories on the acknowledgment pages)!

A Cookbook for Small and Rural Libraries

Learn about locking down public computers, use a handy maintenance checklist, and more! SLS has a copy of this cookbook in the office and it’s a great resource.
Download the entire pdf (381 KB)
Download individual chapters

NEW! Recipes for a 5-Star Library

Learn about wireless, print and time management, and laptop checkout programs!
Download the entire pdf (4.27 MB)
Download individual chapters
For more information on the cookbook project, to submit your own ideas and solutions, or take the cookbook user’s survey, visit http://maintainitproject.org/cookbooks.

PROFESSIONAL BOOK OF THE WEEK

Title: Staffing for Results: A Guide to Working Smarter
Author: Diane Mayo and Jeanne Goodrich

Summary:
If you are considering the reallocation of staff resources for the upcoming fiscal year, this is an excellent tool to help you determine where staff time is best spent. As part of the Planning for Results series, Mayo and Goodrich provide tools for a systematic analysis of work activities in a library. Thirteen customizable workforms are included to help you implement the strategies outlined in the book.

Considering self-checkout machines?

Computers in Libraries profiles a library as they go through their first experiences with self-checkout. Seeing how another library handled the issues involved may help you if you are considering adding this service option to your library.

http://www.infotoday.com/cilmag/feb08/Whitney_Garrett.shtml

Tips to Reduce Work Stress

Stressed out? Overworked and underpaid? Searching for a way to get through each day? Read an article on ways to reduce your stress at work (my favorite – DO LESS – something librarians are not very good at doing) at http://tinyurl.com/2xkpk8.

The Green Guide

Librarians' Internet Index's "New This Week" featured a Green Guide a while back that caught our attention. Aptly titled The Green Guide, it's from National Geographic and includes more information than most of the fad-inspired "green guide" sites that have cropped up in recent months. You'll find product reviews, blogs, tips, and tricks, quizzes, articles, and a free weekly eNewsletter. If you're interested in "living Green", this is a worthwhile resource to explore.

Web Resource for Anatomy Questions

Our Consultant, Katie Dunneback, discovered this site through another one of her regular blogs, Infodoodads (http://infodoodads.com/?p=293). For those of you needing more updated visual resources on anatomy, you may want to consider recommending this site to patrons aged high school and up:

Visible Body - http://www.visiblebody.com.