The Library Connection
The Monthly Newsletter of the Eastern
Shores Library System
www.esls.lib.wi.us
Volume 31 Number 3 March 2011
Click here for the Winter 2011 Bookmobile Schedule
ESLS Awarded Digitization Grant
Recently, Eastern Shores Library System learned it has been awarded $3,800 for one of the five LSTA digitization grants for 2011. Project Administrator and ESLS Cataloging Librarian Alison Ross attended training in Madison and has begun to gather and process material to be shipped to the University of Wisconsin Digital Collections ( UWDC) for digitization.
Significant areas of Sheboygan County’s history have been digitized thanks to the individual efforts of Mead Public Library in Sheboygan and their previous grant work, but Ozaukee County currently has little or no presence in the UWDC or other online resources. Four Eastern Shores Library System libraries are participating in this grant: Frank L. Weyenberg Library of Mequon-Thiensville; Lakeview Community Library, Random Lake; U.S.S. Liberty Memorial Public Library, Grafton; and W.J. Niederkorn Library, Port Washington. The goal of this grant "is to help digitally preserve and promote the history of Ozaukee County for a fuller and richer online view of the communities in Eastern Shores, as well as to make it more visible and accessible for individuals of all types both in and outside of our communities".
According to Alison, "Whether published over 100 years ago or more recently, the selected material is focused on the history of the area, often from personal and civic efforts to document and promote local communities, and offers a broad range of topics. Topics include personal reminiscences of growing up in Ozaukee County, reflections of local residents who served during wartime, histories of various local communities, and histories of public services and groups in those communities, including fire departments and a woman’s club. Some of the titles date as far back as 1835, with a significant amount covering the 19th century through the first half of the 20th century".
More information about the project will be
forthcoming. If you have questions about the project contact Alison
Ross at
920/208-4900 ext 314 or aross@esls.lib.wi.us
According to the ALA website: Numerous studies show there is a clear link between the quality of school library programs in schools staffed by an experienced school librarian and student academic achievement.
According to the American Library Association's State of America’s Libraries Report, as the role of school libraries continued to grow in 2009, many school libraries extended their hours giving students an additional hour and a half to access library materials. Although access to school libraries increased, the average number of school librarians decreased.
In 2009, the Sheboygan Area School District (SASD) eliminated 11 media specialists positions. Five full time media
specialists now staff school media centers in 19 buildings: one media
specialist at each high school, one at the middle school level and two at
the elementary school level. Educational
assistants staff the library media centers.
We questioned a few teachers at various SASD elementary schools about the recent changes:
Have you noticed a decline in usage of school library
material by your students? Yes, the motivation to
visit the library and the excitement about books that was shared with
children by our librarian is no longer evident.
No, we still have an assigned library time
where children check out one book per visit.
No.
Have you as a teacher been less inclined to use the
resources of your school library because you do not have a
professional to assist you? Not really, but I now
just use what I have always used and don't do any collaborating as I once
did with our librarians.
No. We have one very very good library aide
that helps eagerly. I do feel bad for the librarian that is going
school to school because I only talked to here three times this year in
quick passing. For ordering books and meeting our wants list we
don't have time for those conversations any more.
No.
Are you able to contact the school library media
specialist in person for questions, recommendations or other
concerns? No, not in
person, as she is only in our building for 1 morning per week, and I am
teaching during the majority of the time she is in house, so I would have
only a 30 minute time period before school to see her, and I am usually in
a meeting or preparing for the day ahead.
By email only, and see answer above.
Yes.
Do you feel the students are receiving the same
quality education about library usage as in previous years? If you
can give examples, i.e. less instruction about the Dewey Decimal System, less reading or book talks to the students, more individual
browsing time, etc. Students
are definitely not getting the same quality of instruction they once did.
Students see the librarian for two 30 minute lessons once each semester,
she then shows them a "power point" covering the state standards
for the grade level requirements.
I don't know about the older grades but our
time is like a story time. In the past they were introduced to
different sections of the library and explained about the types of books
in each area. I don't see that many more.
No, I do not. They are getting minimal
time to learn about different resources and how to locate and how to do
research. They just have time for a quick story time and check out
books.
Is the staffing adequate for the number of students
that come in during a class visit? Most
schools have the traveling librarian that comes once per week, and 2 Educational
assistants for the library. The EA's each see classes, each
classroom has two 30 minute class times per week. During this time books
are read aloud to children and time to browse is given and checkout books.
Unlike in the past there are no book talks, no higher level questioning,
no reading strategies, no incorporation of reading techniques that foster
lifelong readers. We also see many behavior problems happening in
the library now. This is because we have people in front of children
who do not have the needed methods/education to work with the various ages
and needs of children.
Yes. We have two aids in the library
and one librarian time to time.
It is o.k. I have 25 second grade students
that demand a lot of attention and when you include students that
have special needs (ELL, ADD/ADHD, behavioral problems) they can be a
handful.
Are the library assistants able to answer your
questions in a timely manner? Sure,
they actually have a lot of prep time built into their day.
One is the other is not!
As best they can, considering they are trying to
help all the other staff members at my school.
Do you feel the library is receiving new materials in a timely
manner? I think this is something that the librarian
can do well, I have seen many new things this year in our library.
Less money less new things!
I am not sure about this... I am not aware if
they are or not.
Children's
Librarians Corner
Computers in the Children’s Library
Cindy Beyer- Children Services WJ Niederkorn Library
Do we love them or hate them? Having
Internet capabilities in the children’s library can be a blessing or a
curse. My opinions change
from week to week.
On the plus side, computer access enables the busy Mom to check emails
while her child plays with the puzzles or train set.
Internet access allows school children opportunities to research
projects in an environment that is familiar and comfortable.
Current information is made available to supplement what can be
found in the books on hand. Library computers also provide Internet access to local
families that don’t have the capacity at home.
On the downside, computers are a distraction.
Computer programs distract children away from books which offer
more educational opportunities. We
also have parents that get too involved with their own gaming or Facebook
to monitor their children’s behavior.
In addition, librarians have to spend precious time trying to fix
glitches or computer errors. Sometimes
there are more pressing matters than a computer’s reluctance to do as
requested.
Internet computers in the public library are necessary in today’s
world whether we like them or not. The
key for children librarians is to offer them to patrons but not let them
overshadow the written word. We
need to treasure and remember that personal interactions and books will
always be the backbone of the children’s library.
Hello to All
by Nyama Marsh, Patron Services Manager, Frank L. Weyenberg Library
I attended Wayne State University in Detroit for both my Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology (which got me a job making pizza) and my Master’s in Library and Information Science (which got me a career!). Most recently I worked at the Flint Public Library in Flint, Michigan as a reference librarian for 7 years. I started as the Patron Services Manager at the Frank L. Weyenberg Library on 02/14/11 and am really enjoying myself. I love being a librarian since it gives me a chance to help people; it’s a simple as that. People in metro-Milwaukee and the Mequon-Thiensville area are so incredibly nice and friendly.
One of the first questions I always get asked is the meaning and history of my name. It is Finnish and I am part-Dutch. Michigan has lots of Finnish and Dutch in the northern areas. My family picked up the name a couple of generations ago and I am the third Nyama. In looking into the meaning I found it listed once in Britannica and regrettably did not make a copy. I have not been able to locate a Finnish meaning, but it turns out it is also an African word and typically means “meat” or “life force.” Go figure. I was hoping for “sparkling flower.” http://migrationology.com/index.php/2009/03/nyama-choma-roasted-meat-what-could-be-better/
My husband (Todd), 2 year old son (Vance) and I are living in Glendale and getting to know the area. Our big quandary at the moment is which museums to join as members. Thank you to everyone for the warm welcome to Ozaukee County and Eastern Shores Library System.
Fond du Lac Public Library Continues Informational Quest
Ken Hall, Director of the Fond du Lac Public Library (FDLPL) will be meeting with other ESLS directors on Thursday, April 7 to discuss the possibilities of the Fond du Lac Public Library becoming only a participating member of EasiCat or Fond du Lac County becoming a member of Eastern Shores Library System.
Areas of interest at the meeting will include: the affect of FDLPL membership on delivery time within ESLS, Service costs depending on system membership or only a participating member in EasiCat; participation in and affect on centralized cataloging service; benefit of FDLPL collection to ESLS libraries; and circulation to Winnefox LS residents from FDLP.;
Researching all their options, Fond du Lac Public Library has also made inquiries for a move to Mid-Wisconsin Library System or only becoming a participating member of their online catalog.
Mead's Digitization Project
Helene Capizzi, Mead Public Library
Now, on the internet, you can see digitized versions of very old Sheboygan city and county directories that area part of Mead Public Library's Local History collection. The books include city/county directories from 1875-1898, plus a 1918 rural directory.
Listings include residents, businesses, schools, churches and
societies. The directories, as well as other digitized local history
materials, are available through the University of Wisconsin digital
collections. You may link (go to www.meadpubliclibrary.org/local/history)
to an index of the directories and other local history materials, such as
Sheboygan furniture catalogs, biographical information of prominent
residents, and histories of the city and county. These items were
digitized with grant funds over a period of several years. The
digitization program was funded in part with a grant from the Institute of
Museum and Library Services and Technology Act.
Contact Kim Dalhaimer at Mead Public Library if you have any questions about the project.
OverDrive Information
ESLS will host two webinars at the ESLS offices on April 8 and April 29. You are able to view these webinars in your library, contact your own Library Director or ESLS Director David Weinhold for information on that process. These programs are free but please inform Director Weinhold if you plan to attend at the system offices.
Friday, April 8 at 9:30 a.m. Browse, Checkout, Download: Learn how to browse, check out, and download OverDrive media. At the end of this course, staff should feel comfortable answering basic questions about the OverDrive service. This program is scheduled for 1.5 hours.
Friday, April 29 at 9:30 a.m. Patron Assistance: Become an OverDrive Download Library Specialist: OverDrive staff will help take your understanding of your OverDrive service to the next level so you can share your knowledge through support and training. We'll review frequently asked questions, support tips, and online help resources. This program is scheduled for 1 hour.
Happy Retirement
Happy retirement to Lynn Mihm from the Sheboygan Falls Memorial Library! Lynn has served the library and community for many years bringing the joy of books and reading to children and families. Lynn worked as a teacher for nine years prior to working at the library. She and her husband will be spending more time up north and doing things on the spur of the moment. Lynn's last day was April 1st.
Tina Meyer, already a member of the library staff will assume many of Lynn's duties. Our best to Lynn upon her retirement.
Requesting Genealogical Material from the Wisconsin Historical Society
Genealogical material
from the Wisconsin Historical Society does not circulate. However there
are several ways that your patron can have access to that material.
If your patron has a
specific name or names that he/she is interested in, we can look in the
index and then copy the pages the name(s) are found on. If you patron does
not have a specific name in mind but would like to know more about the
book, we can copy the title page, table of contents, and the index and
then after your patron views that material, you can submit a new request
with the specific pages that your patron would like. In both cases make it
an article request and then put the names or what you want copied in the
notes field.
For genealogical material
from the Wisconsin Historical Society, we have a 50 page limit on what we
will copy per request. If you have any questions, please contact Bob Shaw,
ILL Services Librarian at reshaw@wils.wisc.edu.
Interesting Items
* The New York Times Hardcover Business Best Sellers has a number of books relevant to librarians: OUTLIERS by Malcolm Gladwell; SWITCH by Chip and Dan Heath and DRIVE by Daniel H. Pink. All are available in EasiCat.
* Questions about the new budget? The University of Wisconsin - Madison librarian Beth Harper has a research guide " to government documents related to the Wisconsin state budget: the 2011 state budget, the 2011 budget repair bill, the 2011-2013 biennial budget, and the budget process". Click here to access this timely information. WLA has a legislative information status page available at: http://www.wla.lib.wi.us/legis/status.htm .
*DPI has a link to the proposed 2011-2013 Biennial Budget. Also of interest on this page are links to maps of Wisconsin school districts showing those with the highest poverty rate (Free or Reduced-Price School Meal Eligibility) and the most students with disabilities.
* The Family Resource Center of Sheboygan County through the Literacy Council Project is having tutor training sessions this April. An orientation session will be held April 6 from 5:30 - 6:30 and the actual training sessions will be April 18 and April 28 (5:30 - 9:00 both evenings). You will need to attend both training session be become a tutor. The orientation and training sessions will be held at the Family Resource Center at 2508 South 8th St., Sheboygan. For more information or to sign up for the April training sessions call 457-1888, 892-6706 or email frcliteracy@excel.net .
* The mobile version of EasiCat is available here.
Don't forget Children's Book Week May 2 - 8, 2011!
