The Library Connection

The Monthly Newsletter of the Eastern Shores Library System
www.esls.lib.wi.us

Volume 32 Number 1   January 2012

Take your child to the Library Day Saturday, February 4, 2012
Graphic by author Nancy Elizabeth Wallace

Click here for the Winter 2012 Bookmobile Schedule

New ESLS Board Member

David Weinhold, Director of Eastern Shores Library System

The Library System welcomes Dale Robson to the Library System Board as member at large from a non-libraried municipality.  Robson resides in the Town of Lima on a small horse farm and riding facility.  Currently, he is the Education Coordinator for the Sheboygan County Historical Society.  He oversees the Full Day Education programs for Grades 2 through 4.  Robson was an English teacher at the Random Lake High School for 39 years, retiring in 2010.  He also is active in the Sheboygan County 4-H program, serving as a general leader and also on the Leader Association Executive Board. 

In his application for the Board position, Robson wrote about his interest in the changing roles of libraries and stated, “I am a frequent user of our county's libraries and I am fascinated by the way the libraries try to keep up with the technologies that come our way so very fast.”

Children's Librarians Corner

A Haven of Warmth

Nyama Y. Marsh, Patron Services Manager at the Frank L. Weyenberg Library of Mequon-Thiensville

As the parent of a small child, I long for weekends to play and enjoy our time together, but dread the thought of playing outside in the cold. Mind you, I can handle 30 degrees or even 15 degrees if we’re well bundled, but once NOAA.gov says the wind-chill is in the negative digits, then we need to find some indoor fun. Where might that be? Hmmmm…. The Library!

While sitting at the Children’s service desk I often hear the familiar refrain: “I don’t wanna leave!” That’s music to my ears as a librarian (not so much when I’m the parent dragging my child kicking and screaming out of the library). It’s pleasing to hear from parents and children that say they enjoy visiting us, sometimes for the usual stuff (books, dvds, computer time) but also just to hang out and play in the warmth of the library. The children can play without being rushed and it doesn’t cost Mom or Dad anything for parking or an entrance fee.

As we’ve progressed through the winter we have noticed a few things at our library that needed cleaning and changing to make our space as inviting as possible. I thought I’d pass on a few tips for providing a welcoming winter play space.

Do you have a coat rack? During story time, the explosion of hats, gloves and coats for 40 people can be quite overwhelming if they are laid about on chairs and tables. When I visit somewhere that does not have a place for coats I am always disappointed because it is hard to wear or carry all our items as we walk around. I end up frustrated and overheated and have a less enjoyable time. The simple detail of being able to hang up our coats and walk around unencumbered is crucial.

Check your toys and puppets for cleanliness and good repair. We tracked down the supplier of our magnetic table and replaced the broken magnets so the table is usable again. Given the cost of play tables, it is nice to be able to keep using it after only minor repairs. For our puppets, we found a local laundromat where we could drop them all off and have them cleaned for a per-pound price.  A whopping $17 for 60+ puppets to be cleaned and dried – what an amazing deal! They now sparkle and parents have complimented how clean they look. If you don’t have enough dolls or puppets to warrant using a Laundromat, how often do you take them home and wash them? Soft toys are bastions of germs and dust! Here is a great link for how to wash plush toys. We’ve also had our volunteers use wipes to clean all the hard surface toys (i.e. trucks, cars, activity tables, etc) so they stay grime free.

Fit the toys you offer to the space you have for playing. If your library has cars and trucks to play with, do you also have appropriate floor space for playing? Trust me, two year old boys don’t want to have to keep their car on a table, but we also don’t want them running cars down the book aisles. For libraries without room for playing cars, then perhaps a designated activity table with a mounted train track would be good. If you’ve ever been to the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum on a Saturday then you know the train table is the most popular spot! A small 30’x30’ table can easily fit into a corner and provide a place for children to run trains over the tracks and practice sharing.

Hopefully these tips will help make your libraries a haven of warmth and a place of playful joy this winter season.

New Children's Librarians

The Cedarburg Public Library welcomed Amanda Schmidt as the new Children’s Librarian on December 19th.  For the past year Amanda has been an Assistant Teacher for Ozaukee Child Care and Preschool while attending the University of Wisconsin –Milwaukee to work on her Master of Library and Information Science Degree.  She will graduate in May.   

She was a Student Reference Assistant and later Circulation Supervisor while she was studying for her Bachelor of Science Degrees in Human Development and Psychology from the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay.  

Cedar Grove Public Library has hired Jade McKenzie.  Jade is a native Texan, who just recently moved to Wisconsin with her husband this past summer. She recently finished a Master's Degree in Library Science from the University of North Texas, with an emphasis in youth and school librarianship.  Prior to graduate school she worked as a high school English teacher, and has previous work experience as a tutor, writer and editor. 

In addition to working as the new Children's Librarian at the Cedar Grove Public Library, Jade also works as a Library Assistant at the Elkhart Lake Library. Jade really" loves children's and young adult literature and is excited about getting kids to read and learn!"  Jade's email address is jmckenzie@esls.lib.wi.us 

Reaching Out to Teens

The Chicago Sun Times  and Fox Business reports that many teens are struggling to find employment.  Saving for college is one financial need but many teens also help with day to day costs to help their families cope with limited incomes. 

These are some ways libraries might try helping teens find employment:
1) Use the portable computer labs and hold a workshop on filling out job applications, writing resumes and doing job searches for teens through the local Job Service or Workforce Development Centers.
2) Could your library use teen volunteers to provide work experience and references? Try thinking out of the box, most libraries know some great teens that could assistance with using ebook readers or the summer reading program. 
3) Host a teen job fair. It could also be for students that would like to start their own business.  Possible ventures include babysitting, lawn mowing, designing and marketing jewelry, caring for pets while people are on vacation, car detailing, etc.

  MONEY SMART WEEK ^® WISCONSIN 2012 
April 21 - 28, 2012

Money Smart Week has changed from October to April for the State of Wisconsin. Wisconsin and eleven other states have made Money Smart Week^® a national program.  Matt Kautzer of  Consumer Credit Counseling Service is the Sheboygan County Money Smart Week contact person.  Matt's email is: mattkautzer.cccs@yahoo.com  and Carol Bralich of UWEX Family Living  is the contact person for Ozaukee County.  Carol's email is : cbralich@co.ozaukee.wi.us  
 

Some of the ESLS Children's librarians have already made plans to observe this week.

News from the Area

The Cedarburg Public Library will be celebrating 100 years of library service throughout 2012.  Vonna Pitel is writing articles about the history of the library for the News Graphic.

Two sites are still under consideration for a new library. On January 24 the draft "Site Comparison Study" was presented to the Library Board.  The Board will discuss the study on February 7 and may agree on a site to be presented to the Common Council in mid February. 

All ten of the computer laptops have updated! Paul Onufrak, Automation Librarian and Mike Keppel, the Technical Support person installed Overdrive media console and Adobe ePub ebook reader on the laptops so libraries can demonstrate downloading ebooks to their patrons.  To reserve a date to use the laptops contact Paula Siefert at 920/208-4900 ext. 310 or email her at psiefert@esls.lib.wi.us  .

The U. S. S. Liberty Memorial Library in Grafton received a 2011 State Employer of the Year award by the Wisconsin APSE (Association of Persons in Supported Employment).  This award is in recognition of the exceptional support the library provides to an employee with developmental disabilities.  Sacha P. has been with the library for over 12 years. He was hired by Director Arnie Gutkowski through Portal Industries, a Grafton based organization that works with people with disabilities. 

Director John Hanson notes that  "It has been a great pleasure to work with Sacha. He started out cleaning shelves and emptying garbage pails. Over the years his responsibilities have greatly increased. He currently shelves books and audio-visual materials, and he also empties all garbage and recycling containers".  Sacha works three different days a week for a total of eight hours.

The Lakeview Community Library in Random Lake with Wisconsin Public Television (WPT) recently held a public preview screening of "Prohibition," the PBS documentary series by Ken Burns.  Director Darla Kraus received an email about the program and then she talked to WPT at WLA about hosting this program.  A local history teacher was the moderator and Darla stated, "he did a great job".  Darla noted there was great discussion and the film shorts were wonderful - "just enough information to spark an conversation".   Besides a book display they had a moonshine/alcohol still and the teacher brought in a National History Day project on prohibition done by area freshman - a whisky barrel display. 

Mead Public Library is looking into holding a Book Discussion group via Skype.  

The W. J. Niederkorn Library of Port Washington recently hosted an Antique Appraisal Event on January 28 with Mark Moran, author of dozens of antiques reference guides and former senior editor for antiques and collectibles books with Krause Publications in Iola, Wisconsin.   The program involved appraisal of antiques, collectibles and decorative arts.  

According to Anne Bahringer of the Adult Services Department, " It went really well. We finished within 3 hours, even with a small break in between".  Many of the participants stayed for the entire program, while others left after their turn.  They had a wide variety of items, "lamps, pottery, paintings, and one woman had a sewing pattern maker from the 1890’s that could have been valued over $200".  Anne summed it up very well saying, "It was a really fun program and though there were some disappointments, there were just as many pleasant surprises"! 

For more information check out Mark F Moran's blog.

CleanPrint – Control How Much you Print from Webpages

From Wisconsin State Law Library Newsletter, WSLL@Your Service, December, 2011
Tech Tip in Brief – Heidi Yelk

If you’ve recently printed content from the websites of CNN, ABC News, or the Washington Post, you may have noticed they utilize a “CleanPrint” option.  This handy tool can be used to customize printing, allowing you to eliminate images, change the font size and even use less toner (an option available on CNN.com).

When a “partner” website is using CleanPrint to process print requests, users who click a print button next to a story will see this symbol appear on the screen:

The content is then formatted into the CleanPrint dialog box where the user can determine output.  Standard features include removing images, adding a note, and even removing blocks of text from the story. (Another reminder for researchers to be skeptical of web content, even when it appears to come from a trusted source.) The usual “sharing” features – Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn – are also available.   

Perhaps the best news about CleanPrint is that you don’t have to be on a “partner” website to use it.  The maker, FormatDynamics, has made it available as a “bookmarklet” allowing users to “CleanPrint” from any website.  To add this tool on IE8+, Firefox 3.5+, Chrome 2+,or  Safari 4+ see these instructions.

For convenience, put the CleanPrint bookmarklet within easy reach - for example, in your Internet Explorer Favorites bar or Firefox Bookmarks Toolbar. When a webpage is displayed in your browser, simply click the bookmark or favorite and CleanPrint will engage.

We will Become Them

We recently ran a three part article  Creating Aging-Friendly Communities in Wisconsin:  How Prepared is Your County for the Coming “Age Wave?” by Jane Jensen, Family Living Educator from the UW-Extension Sheboygan County.  The recent United States census shows we need to ready ourselves for the inevitable. According to the census, 13.7% of the state's population is 65 years or older.  Ozaukee and Sheboygan County have higher percentages of their populations 65 years of age or older.

Compare this with same size cities at: State and County Quickfacts. 

Interesting Items

* The date has been set for the next Sheboygan Children's Book Festival!  October 12 - 14, 2012 will find authors and illustrators taking part in workshops, talks, and demonstrations.  If your school is interested in hosting an author/illustrator on School Visit Friday (Oct. 12), please contact them by clicking here.   They would always love to have more volunteers, please contact them by clicking on the preceding link.

* Children's Librarian Sandy George has left the Plymouth Public Library.  Until that position has been filled please contact Director Martha Rosche at: mrosche@esls.lib.wi.us  with any questions for this department.

* A Youth Services meeting will be held on Friday, March 2, 2012 at the Oscar Grady Public Library in Saukville. The main item on the agenda will be the Summer Library Program.  Paula Siefert, Youth Liaison for the System  will be sending out more information soon. 

* Library Legislative Day is February 14, 2012.  For more information click here. 

* The creators of the Organizing the Bookshelf are at it again.  Check out The Joy of Books and find out more about the creators, Sean Ohlenkamp and his wife by clicking here. 

* Wondering if South Central will be making the interlibrary loan delivery to the Eastern Shores System office?  Then Get in the Van: The SCLS Delivery Service Blog and find out.  Remember no delivery on Wednesdays.

* The free Job Seekers Networking Group meets at the Sheboygan United Way Building  from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
 Wednesday, February 8, 2012        Topic: 10 Things You Must Do Before that Successful Interview 
     Guest Presenter: Matt Kautzer (Consumer Credit Counseling Service)
a)  Learn how to prepare for that all-important interview
b)  Discuss techniques that allow you to “shine” in the interview
Wednesday, February 22, 2012      Topic:      Things To Do Now For Your 2012 Job Search
     Guest Presenter: Matt Kautzer (Consumer Credit Counseling Service)
a)      Discuss ways to begin preparing for your New Year’s job search
b)     Learn action steps that are effective and easy to implement
Wednesday, February 29, 2012      Topic:      Tips for Staying Encouraged During a Long Job Search 
     Guest Presenter: Matt Kautzer (Consumer Credit Counseling Service)
a)      Learn ways to stay encouraged and hopeful during your job search
b)     Discuss ways to be proactive and focused

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