3D Moon Landing Adventure from Google Earth

This great site includes moon tours of the landing sites narrated by the astronauts, view models of the spacecraft, and more! Interest is high right now with the anniversary of the Apollo mission, bookmark for your patrons! http://earth.google.com/moon/

YALSA Announces 3 Online Courses This Fall

The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), will offer three online courses this fall: AIMing at Tweens Advising, Involving, Motivating, taught by Teri Lesesne; Graphic Novels and Teen Readers: The Basics and Beyond, taught by Francisca Goldsmith; and Reaching Teens with Gaming, taught by Beth Gallaway. Register at http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/onlinecourses/info.cfm#current. They are expensive but an easy way to get a conference session experience.

PROFESSIONAL BOOK OF THE WEEK

Title: Library Services to Latinos

Editor: Salvador Guerena

Summary:
A compilation of essays and research articles, this anthology provides valuable insight into working with Latino populations. Topics include working with immigrant populations, outreach strategies, Hispanic student in community colleges, and developing Spanish language collections.

FRIENDS OF THE BURLINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY TO HOST SALE Bargain lovers, get ready. The Friends of the Burlington Public Library will have hundreds of books for your low-priced reading pleasure at its spring sale Friday June 26th and Saturday June 27th. Most hardbacks will be only $1 and most paperbacks only 50 cents! Members of the Friends organization will be admitted to the preview sale from 3 to 6 p.m. on Friday, and everyone is welcome to browse Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you would like to clear space on your shelves for those bargains, donate your good quality books at the Footnotes shop.

Another library abandons DDC

As part of its customers-first philosophy, the Rangeview Library District in Northglenn, Colorado, is replacing the Dewey Decimal Classification with its own WordThink system. The new method was generated from a book-industry standard for organizing materials. Materials are arranged by simple categories like history and science instead of a numeric system. The district’s new Bennett branch opened May 30 with the new organization in place, and by the end of the year all Rangeview branches will use WordThink....
Business Wire, June 2

10 ways to tell if you are a solo librarian
John Clark of the Hartland (Maine) Public Library wrote this for the initial issue of MLA to Z: The News-to-use-letter of the Maine Library Association, April 2007, pp. 3–4 (PDF file). You can identify with it even if you don’t work in a public library. “10. You have done story hour while simultaneously checking out books and answering a reference question over the phone.”...
OPL Plus, June 2

Arts programming in a public library

Jude Schanzer writes: “We all know that libraries are no longer confined to brick and mortar. No longer can the library be looked at as only an informational and educational center. Some call us ‘community centers’ now. I say we are ‘cultural centers,’ with all that those words conjure up in our minds. Performance, visual arts, literature, history, discussion, innovative thought, and more are part and parcel of what can be found in a cultural center. Sounds like a library to me.”...
Programming Librarian, May 19, 26, June

New Virtual Conference sessions
Attend Annual Conference from your desktop this year with ALA’s new Virtual Conference. ALA will offer 10 interactive, hour-long web sessions on July 13 and 14. These interactive programs—from ALA’s Washington Office, the Office for Intellectual Freedom, and several other divisions and offices—will be the next best thing to being at the conference itself. Topics include accessing stimulus money for broadband deployment, greening your library, and best customer service....

19 new Great Web Sites for Kids

ALSC has placed 19 new websites on its Great Web Sites for Kids list. Great Web Sites for Kids are those considered the best for ages birth to 14, outstanding in both content and conception. As applied to websites for young people, “great” should be thought to include sites of especially commendable quality that reflect and encourage young people’s interests in exemplary ways....
ALSC Blog, June 3

Top 10 pet peeves about patrons
Brian Herzog writes: “Usually I’m a pretty happy-go-lucky guy, and I really do enjoy my job. But I thought I’d share a list of the top 10 things that patrons do that can really irk me. Not that I expect every patron interaction to be perfect and wonderful, of course; these are a just few things that make bad days worse. I tried to limit this list to things unique to library patrons, and this list (which ended up being longer than I expected) is in no particular order.”...
Swiss Army Librarian, June 2

Congratulations to the Wilton Public Library!

Wilton broke ground on June 12 for a facility to house a branch of the Muscatine Community College, a community center and the library. Ideally situated near senior housing and across the street from a school, this facility has been the center of amazing fundraising and community support.

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.

2009 ALA Annual Conference Friends Sessions

This year the Annual Conference is in Chicago. There is a two part session on “Nuts and Bolts for Friends” on Saturday, July 11. You do not have to attend both, but the second session will not be a repeat of the first.

Nuts and Bolts for Friends

Saturday, July 11, 10:30 am - 12:00 pm

Come hear experts talk about ways to improve your Friends of the Library group and maximize the Friends' ability to raise money, increase membership and work effectively with their library. Be prepared to share your best practices and your stumbling blocks with other Friends from across the country. This program is part one of a two part series (the second to be held in the afternoon). It is not required that you attend both but the second session will be a continuation of discussions and not a repeat. Speakers: Susan Schmidt, Past President, Friends of Libraries U.S.A.; Robin Hoklotubbe, Secretary, Friends of Libraries U.S.A

For more information on the session and costs, visit http://www.ala.org/ala/conferencesevents/upcoming/annual/2009/registration.cfm.

Prepub Alert from Library Journal’s May 15 issue: Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol, Nicholas Sparks’ The Last Song, Joyce Carol Oates’ Little Bird of Heaven, Craig Furguson’s American on Purpose, Jane Goodall’s Hope for Animals and Their World, Sue Monk Kidd’s Traveling with Pomegranates, Lebron James’ Shooting Stars, James Patterson’s The Murder of King Tut and Elizabeth Thomas’ The Hidden Life of Deer (from the author of The Hidden Life of Dogs).

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.

Cedar Rapids Public Library Continues to Fight FEMA Decision

Library Journal reports on CRPL’s fight with FEMA at http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6657403.html.

Start a Library Foundation

http://www.folusa.org/resources/pdf-versions/fact-sheet-16.pdf has great tips on how to start a library foundation. Don’t forget that your local or regional community foundation will, for a very small fee, act as your library’s foundation as well. For more information on the opportunities afforded by community foundations, contact Kim Kietzman at kkietzman@sls.lib.ia.us.

OCLC Makes Plans to Create an Online ILS for FirstSearch WorldCat Members

Current FirstSearch WorldCat members would have the option, at no extra cost, to have OCLC serve as their ILS system, complete with a locally branded catalog interface and a search function. For an in-depth look at the components of what they do, and will, offer go to www.bit.ly/OCLCsystem.

Library as Movie Studio

Sewickley (PA) Public Library Young Adult Librarian Kelly Rottmund has created “Movie Stars @ the Library,” a program where teens can use the library’s camera to make their own films after school, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported March 5. The young filmmakers have thus far created a murder mystery, a dance video and a comedy involving Pokemon and communists.

From American Libraries, April 2009

More Affordable Public Workstations – Using Open Source

Open source public workstations are an excellent option for libraries looking for cost-effective alternatives to proprietary software. Read about it in this May 2009 American Libraries article at http://site.ebrary.com/lib/ala/docDetail.action?docID=10290396&page=35.

PROFESSIONAL BOOK OF THE WEEK

Title: The Library Manager’s Deskbook: 102 Expert Solutions to 101 Common Dilemmas

Authors: Paula Phillips Carson, Kerry David Carson, Joyce Schouest Phillips

Summary:

Sometimes you just need to know where to start. This book covers many issues facing library managers in all types and sizes of libraries and is a brief overview of where to begin to address these concerns. The broad themes include communication issues, professional issues, employment issues, personnel issues and liability issues.

Green Libraries

Wanda Urbanska from Simple Living Network explores how librarians can make a difference every day in many ways, as we all move toward environmental friendliness. The April 2009 American Libraries article can be read through Ebsco at http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&db=lxh&bquery=(AU+(+urbanska+))+and+(greener)&type=1&site=ehost-live.

Library as Movie Studio

Sewickley (PA) Public Library Young Adult Librarian Kelly Rottmund has created “Movie Stars @ the Library,” a program where teens can use the library’s camera to make their own films after school, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported March 5. The young filmmakers have thus far created a murder mystery, a dance video and a comedy involving Pokemon and communists.

From American Libraries, April 2009

Mentally Ill in the Public Library

A snapshot of issues around the mentally ill patron in the library. From the March/April 2009 issue of Public Libraries. The research is available at http://pla.org/ala/mgrps/divs/pla/plapublications/publiclibraries/PL_48n2_Torrey_etal.pdf

Family Storytime – Planning and Tips from American Libraries, May 2009

Read about family storytimes at http://site.ebrary.com/lib/ala/document/display.jsp?docID=10290396&page=46

Procrastination and Wikipedia

From American Libraries, April 2009, comes a column on how students use Wikipedia and other resources for last minute work. projectinfolit.org/pdfs/internet_librarian_al_april_2009.pdf

Book Groups for Boys!

Michael Sullivan gives you the how-to in the May 2009 American Libraries. Read all about it at http://site.ebrary.com/lib/ala/docDetail.action?docID=10290396&page=46

PROFESSIONAL BOOK OF THE WEEK

Title: Used Book Sales: Less Work & Better Profits

Author: D. Keith Crotz

Summary: With times getting tight, we’re all looking to make our dollars stretch as far as we can. That includes finding new sources of income where possible. For many libraries, book sales are a steady stream of income. This is especially true when people are looking to purchase items new-to-them, but at a discounted price. If you already have an annual book sale, or are looking to start one, Crotz offers some tips on maximizing your profits

LAST CHANCE FOR BLACK BELT LIBRARIAN

For any of you who are on the fence about attending our upcoming workshop with Warren Davis Graham, the Black Belt Librarian, don’t forget that the last day to register is this Monday, April 27^th. As we are ordering food for this event, this is also the last day to cancel without being charged even if you are unable to make it. Please let Katie Dunneback (kdunneback@sls.lib.ia.us) know if you have any questions!

Black Belt Librarian
CE Units: 3.5
Speaker: Warren Davis Graham
Cost: $10

Warren Davis Graham, the Black Belt Librarian, will talk about what makes a security program effective in the real world, then show how to approach patrons to best inform them of rules to get them to comply. He will also talk about how to recognize the different levels of emotion a patron may be in and how best to handle the situation.

Burlington Public Library (Co-Sponsor)
Monday, May 4^th
10:00 am to 2:00 pm

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

PROFESSIONAL BOOK OF THE WEEK

Title: Preschool Favorites: 35 Storytimes Kids Love

Author: Diane Briggs

Summary:

For anyone looking for fresh storytime ideas, this fabulous book will give you a kick-start. Separated into themes, each chapter includes suggested titles, sing-a-along songs, craft ideas, flannelboard ideas and more. A great addition to any storytime presenter’s repertoire.

Thanks to all who attended ILA Legislative Day 2009!

PROFESSIONAL BOOK OF THE WEEK

Title: Book Repair
Authors: Kenneth Lavender & Scott Stockton

Summary:
When budgets are tight as they are now, it feels even more imperative to make our materials last as long as possible. This volume in publisher Neal-Schuman’s popular “How-To-Do-It Manual” series provides step-by-step instructions, materials lists, and detailed graphics illustrating common and not-so-common book repair processes.

DON'T FORGET: ILA LEGISLATIVE DAY IS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25TH!

PROFESSIONAL BOOK OF THE WEEK

Title: The Complete Guide to Performance Standards for Library Personnel
Author: Carol F. Goodson

Summary:
Evaluating employees is much easier when we have clear guidelines on how to do so. Implementing performance standards gives us those guidelines. If you are looking to overhaul current standards or newly introduce them, this book will provide you with accepted standards for all levels of staff.

SIGN UP NOW FOR THE SUMMER LIBRARY PROGRAM KICK-OFF

It’s getting to be that time of year again, and the summer will be here before you know it. The Summer Library Program Kick-Off is for all those who’ve started their SLP planning or need that extra kick in the pants to do so. We will be demonstrating a database Katie has created to help you keep track of participants and programs to make reporting of statistics to the State Library easier. Also on tap is helping you work up a plan for a program for you to use or keep in reserve. There will be roundtable discussion as well as some crafts on hand for you to try out. You can register for this at the State Library CE Catalog: http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/cgi-bin/cecat/index.cgi. As this is an in-person program, it is subject to our requirement of at least 8 registered attendees.

CE Credit: 2

Tuesday, March 24th
Ottumwa Public Library
9 am to 12 pm

Thursday, March 26th
Musser Public Library
1 pm to 4 pm

Tuesday, March 31st
West Point Public Library
9 am to 12 pm

PROFESSIONAL BOOK OF THE WEEK

Title: Successful Staff Development
Author: Marcia Trotta

Summary:
Neal-Schuman is well known for their informative and excellent “A How-To-Do-It Manual” series. This addition to the series is another fabulous resource for the sometimes sticky issue of staff development. By focusing on positive results, you can effect change. Trotta’s book provides a number of great tools to help you create an effective and satisfied staff.

SLS OFFERS GRANT OPPORTUNITY

Southeastern Library Services is happy to be offering one $300 grant to a librarian or library staff member working directly with children/teens at a library in the Southeast region to attend the 2009 Kids First Conference at the Gateway Center in Ames, IA, April 27-29, 2009. This year, we are doing a random drawing from all who register for the grant. The registration period is open until next Monday, March 9th. The link for the registration is below. Please contact Katie at kdunneback@sls.lib.ia.us if you have any questions!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=XPF7N5A0uG33qVxG8RB1XA_3d_3d

MORE VIDEO IDEAS FROM EAST COAST LIBRARYLAND

The Weigle Information Commons music video. Students are singing about the wonders of the David B. Weigle Information Commons, located in the University of Pennsylvania’s Van Pelt Library, in this video (3:03) directed by Ryan A. Leonard. Sung to the tune of Petula Clark’s “Downtown”: “We can forget all our troubles, forget all our cares, and go Weigle.”...University of Pennsylvania

LIBRARIES AID IN TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES

New Jersey’s new library commercial. This is a 30-second commercial the New Jersey State Library produced for the state Public Television Network that highlights how libraries are helping patrons get jobs in tough economic times. YouTube, Feb. 12

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.

Professional Book of the Week

Title: Managing Money: A Guide for Librarians
Author: Anne M. Turner

Summary:
Do you feel like finances are often another language? Turner clearly lays out a number of concepts and situations which directly impact library budgets. Major topics include budgets, purchasing, requesting bids for projects, audits and finance departments.

PROFESSIONAL BOOK OF THE WEEK

Title: Staff Development: A Practical Guide
Authors: Elizabeth Fuseler Avery, Terry Dahlin, Deborah A. Carver

Summary:
Libraries are in the business off providing excellent customer service. Part of providing that level of excellence is having a well-trained staff. Staff training is one of those things we all recognize the need for, but rarely seem to have the time to do. This book will guide you through training concepts and building a staff development program. The practical nature of this book makes it useful in any type and size of library.

Cedar Rapids Team Named "Librarian of the Year" by Library Journal

January’s issue of Library Journal has named the "Librarian of the Year"…and it’s Team Cedar Rapids! Congratulations to the Cedar Rapids Library.

As they and other libraries impacted directly or indirectly from last summer’s flooding continue to work to bring extraordinary service in extraordinary times, let’s celebrate what libraries of all types and sizes do for, and with, their communities!

Keep the good news coming…we’d love to share it with everyone in the Iowa library community. Feel free to email Kim Kietzman at kkietzman@sls.lib.ia.us with your news as it happens.

Keokuk Receives Grants for "Big Read"

The African American Museum of Iowa has been awarded a National Endowment for the Arts grant to administer The Big Read program in Iowa communities in 2009.

The Keokuk Public Library will be one of seven libraries where people will read "Their Eyes Were Watching God," by Zora Neale Hurston. The Big Read will include speakers, book discussions, movie screenings and a one-woman play relating to the book in January and February. Plenty of copies of the book (including large print and audio) and reading guides are available for checkout at the KPL, 210 N. 5th Street.

This Saturday, January 10th at 2:00 PM is the kick-off for the KPL’s first Big Read of 2009. “Queen Zora”, a one-woman play written and performed by Ruth Anne Gaines, depicting the life of Zora Neale Hurston from her childhood of poverty in the rural south to her rise in the Harlem Renaissance. The program will be 30 – 45 minutes in length.

Find information on other Big Read events at http://www.keokuklibrary.org/ (http://www.keokuk.lib.ia.us/use-our-library/programs/bigread2009/bigread-hurston/) or http://www.blackiowa.org/.

In March, the KPL will celebrate another Big Read with The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain.

The following is from the American Library Association. If interested, please reply to address below.

Dear Librarian:
The ALA Public Programs Office is pleased to partner with the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) for the sixth We the People Bookshelf project. This year’s theme, "Picturing America," explores the premise that a nation’s literature, as well as its visual art, can be a window on its character, ideals and aspirations.

Public and school (K-12) libraries are invited to apply online through January 30, 2009 at http://publicprograms.ala.org/bookshelf. 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 2009, NEH will award 4,000 libraries - the most ever under a single Bookshelf grant - a collection of 17 classic hardcover books for young readers, related to the "Picturing America" theme, as well as Spanish translations of three titles, and bonus materials for readers of all ages. Successful applicants will also receive accompanying materials for programming, including bookplates, bookmarks and posters.
For programming ideas and tips, access to the guidelines and application, book titles, and further details, visit http://publicprograms.ala.org/bookshelf. With questions, contact publicprograms@ala.org.

Professional Book of the Week

Title: Library Volunteers – Worth the Effort! A Program Manager’s Guide
Author: Sally Gardner Reed

Summary:
Volunteers can be a staple to library services. Good and great volunteers are worth their weight in gold and then some. Learning how to effectively manage these fabulous resources, and the sometimes not-so-fabulous ones, is one librarians struggle with. Reed, Executive Director of Friends of Libraries USA (FOLUSA), lays out solid advice and guidance on the various situations you may face when dealing with volunteers.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM SLS!

CONGRATS TO WEST LIBERTY LIBRARY'S TECHNOTEENS!

The West Liberty Public Library's First Lego League team, TechnoTeens, with the support of Iowa State University Extension, Rockwell Collins, and volunteer coaches Mark McLain and Trista Clark participated in the prequalifying rounds at Cedar Rapids on Saturday, December 13th. Forty teams from Southeast Iowa competed. The Library's team received the Rising Star Award for potential and teamwork in a first-year team and now will participate at the State Tournament in Ames on January 17th.

First Lego League(FLL)is an international club for 9 to 13-year-olds that teaches children not only NTX Robotics design but also math, science,social studies and teamwork. There are also First Lego Leagues for 5-8 year-olds as well as a high school category.

In Iowa, FLL is sponsored by Iowa State University and Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids. Teams of 2-10 participants take on a yearly challenge, Climate Connections for 2008. The participants must find an issue related to the challenge locally, research and find the same issue on a global scale and then brainstorm and make a project presentation exploring the issue and then suggest a possible solution. Additionally, the students are given a game board with 12 tasks that they must build and then program a Lego NXT robot to complete.

The West Liberty Library's TechnoTeens are not only the first Library team to compete, but they are also one of the rare teams that are not associated with a school classroom environment.

PROFESSIONAL BOOK OF THE WEEK

Title: Public Libraries and Internet Service Roles
Authors: Charles R. McClure and Paul T. Jaeger

Summary:
Computers and public internet access are here to stay. How we support that service is one that continues to change as our communities change. This book will help you to think about what you want your role to be in the future in providing internet services to the public and how you can achieve those goals.

Professional Book of the Week

Title: Delivering Satisfaction and Service Quality: A Customer-Based Approach for Libraries
Authors: Peter Hernon and John R. Whitman

Summary:
In these tight financial times, we are in need of a strong support base of loyal supporters. The primary way we build that support network is by providing excellent customer service. Customer service is where libraries need to excel. This guide helps you evaluate your current customer service system as well as presenting ways to improve that system.

E-BOOKS?

Are ebooks the future?
Amazon thinks so…read about the first birthday of their e-reader device, the Kindle, at http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/12/03/kindle.electronic.reader/index.html for some interesting perspectives on where electronic books might be headed.

DAVENPORT LIBRARY SEEKS TECHNICAL SERVICES SUPERVISOR

The Davenport Public Library is currently accepting applications for the position of Technical Services Supervisor. For more information, please click on the link below:

http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/ld/joblist/dav/.

Deadline for applying is December 28, 2008.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM ALL OF US AT SOUTHEASTERN LIBRARY SERVICES!

Our office will be closed on Thursday, November 27th in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday. We will resume normal business hours on Friday, November 28th.

PROFESSIONAL BOOK OF THE WEEK

Title: The Librarian’s Guide to Partnerships
Editor: Sherry Lynch

Summary:
Libraries are forever being asked to tighten our belts, and we will probably see further financial cuts in the next few years. It is important for libraries to develop community partnerships to cement our sustainability. This book shows particular cases where community partnerships aided in one library’s mission of providing excellent quality service to their community.

Wi Fi Library List

Karen Burns, Administrator from Southwest Iowa Library Service Area, has taken-on the Herculean task of creating a list of libraries in Iowa that currently offer Wi Fi services. Whew! At the moment there are 111 libraries listed (not counting branches.) It is definitely a work in progress, so if you don't see your library's name on the list, please feel free to contact Karen at kburns@swilsa.lib.ia.us. She'll be happy to include you. Please access the current list is at: http://www.ilsa.lib.ia.us/libhotspots.htm.

PROFESSIONAL BOOK OF THE WEEK

Title: The Small Public Library Survival Guide: Thriving on Less
Author: Herbert B. Landau

Summary:
Landau covers a wide range of topics from defining your role in the community and converting your community’s needs into a strategic plan through to writing, and winning, grants, library programming on a tight budget and more. In a time where every penny spent is precious, this will be useful to libraries of all sizes and types.

Marshalltown’s New Library Hailed as Iowa’s First Public Library to Seek LEED Silver Certification

From Library Journal online: The first public library in Iowa to seek LEED “silver” certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is nearing completion in Marshalltown, a county seat of 26,000 people about 50 miles northeast of Des Moines. The current Marshalltown Public Library, a five-level Carnegie building, was built in 1902 and expanded in 1974. It has for years been overcrowded; the new 35,670 square foot building, on one level, will double the space.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6608914.html

"National Gaming Day @ Your Library" is November 15, 2008

On Saturday, November 15, 2008, hundreds of libraries throughout the country will showcase gaming programs and services in support of National Gaming Day @ Your Library (NGD). For information on the event and to register your own plans, go to http://gaming.ala.org/resources/index.php?title=Ngd2008.