The Library Connection

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

Volume 28 Number 4   April 2008

Click here for the Winter 2008 Bookmobile Schedule

Beyond Our Current Horizon, Part IV

David Weinhold, Director of Eastern Shores Library System 

The Shared Library Automation Committee (SLAC) of the Eastern Shores Library System selected Polaris as the integrated library system that will replace Horizon as the software that powers EasiCat - the library system’s shared automated catalog and circulation system.  Polaris is headquartered in Syracuse, New York and has provided library automation for 30 years.

The SLAC Horizon Replacement Team (HRT) viewed demonstrations from a number of vendors of integrated library systems.  The team created a checklist of features that were required in a replacement system and features that were desired.  During the last two months the the HRT narrowed their choices to three and scheduled in-person demonstrations and working interviews with the vendors.  In addition some members talked to the vendors at PLA in Minneapolis in March.  In their recommendation to SLAC, the HRT believed “that Polaris offered the best product and the only product on balance that met (and exceeded) the current functionality we get out of Horizon.”  SLAC thanked the members of the team for their time and work over the last six months.  Members of the Horizon Replacement Team included: Diane Kallas, David Nimmer, Carol Wunsch, Linda Bendix, Dale Gort, Linda Pierschalla, Alison Ross, Ann Penke, and Paul Onufrak.

SLAC agreed to enter into negotiations with Polaris with the understanding that if negotiations fail, the search will be reopened.  A Negotiating Team was chosen and includes people who served as negotiators in 2000 as well as people from the current Horizon Replacement Team.  The team includes: Linda Pierschalla, Martha Suhfras, Linda Bendix, Dale Gort, Alison Ross, Paul Onufrak, and David Weinhold.  In addition SLAC will seek advice from a board member skilled in contract negotiations, the library system attorney, and a former Horizon librarian who has also chosen Polaris.  SLAC plans to present the Polaris contract to the Library System Board at its June meeting.  

To view the Polaris Users Group (PUG) webpage click on the link below:
http://www.polarisusersgroup.org/Membership.htm

If you'd like to view the Polaris OPAC in use click on the library links below:

Southern Adirondack Library System
http://pac.sals.edu/polaris/Search/default.aspx?ctx=1.1033.0.0.6

Arlington Public Library System
http://polarisweb.pub-lib.ci.arlington.tx.us/Polaris/Search/default.aspx?ctx=1.1033.0.0.1 

Lakeview Community Library in Random Lake Receives Award

Lakeview Community Library received notification from Rep. Petri that they were one of seven libraries in east-central Wisconsin’s 6^th Congressional District who were awarded a collection of 17 classic books through the National Endowment for Humanities’ (NEH) We the People Bookshelf Program.  “The We the People Bookshelf introduces young readers to important literature and promotes the understanding of vital ideas in our nation’s history,” said NEH Chairman Bruce Cole. “Through the power of these stories millions of young readers will have the opportunity to examine the central tenet of our American identity: that all human beings ‘are created equal.” Many of the books selected on the theme consist of material on Abraham Lincoln including a “History in a Box” collection of resource materials on Lincoln developed by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American history to help promote the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial over the next year. "We need to encourage our young people to take a greater interest in American history in general, and in the overarching themes of that history.  Literature can play an important part in getting children thinking about these issues," said Petri. “Created Equal’ helps students to explore one of America’s greatest founding principles, and the books featured in this collection both address the concept of equality and recount the periods of our history which tested the declaration that ‘all men are created equal.”

Additional information about the national Endowment for the Humanities, its grant programs, and the We the People Bookshelf is available on the Internet at www.neh.gov.

Children's Librarians Corner

Using Crafts to Extend Storytime Themes

Beth Kiskunas, Cedar Grove Public Library

When I began doing the Preschool Story times at our Library in September, I noticed that  the children attending were mostly 3 years old and younger. To keep their attention, I read short stories, do lots of finger plays and songs and end with a theme related craft. Since then, the most positive feedback I have received from story time parents has been about the crafts. Hopefully, this is not due to my poor storytelling skills!! I try to plan my crafts to the skill level of three-year olds. (Though I find the older children will make more elaborate patterns and the little one and two-year olds are just happy to bring something home, even if their parent has done most of the craft.) This basically means coloring and gluing things on paper--with parents or myself in charge of the glue. I try to make the craft open-ended, so that the children can glue and color as much or as little as they like and the project still looks good. I plan for the craft to take 10-15 minutes. Usually preparing for the craft takes less than an hour and consists of cutting out material. I try to use inexpensive easy-to-find materials.

A craft I made for my color orange theme is a good example. I cut pumpkins out of orange cardstock and then searched through my craft supplies for orange "stuff". I found orange yarn, foamies, pompoms, stickers, artificial flowers, etc. The children glued the orange stuff on the pumpkins to make a multi-dimensional orange collage.

At Christmas, I expanded on the gluing idea to make a Christmas keepsake banner. I bought red felt square and glued green felt Christmas trees to them to make a mini banner. I then hot glued a straw with a string attached to the back of the square to use as a hanger. I glitter glued the year at the bottom of the banner. The children then glued sequins and stars on the tree to represent ornaments.

Crafts like these examples do not take much time to prepare, but really enhance the story time experience.

Spring Reference Meeting

Kim Dalhaimer, Reference Services Liaison, Mead Public Library 

On Tuesday, May 20 from 9:00 a. m. to 1:00, at Mead Public Library the Spring Reference Meeting will be held. Kim Dalhaimer has arranged for three representatives to discuss various electronic databases available to our customers. Maria Ziemer will inform us about Heritage Quest Online. Hollie Davis will talk about p4A and Sheila Diedrich will demonstrate some of the features of the Chilton Auto Repair Database. 

Please register with Kim by calling 920-459-3400 ext 3437, e-mail kdalhaim@esls.lib.wi.us or sending in the bottom the flyer.

  Going Buggy

Children’s librarians from ESLS and Manitowoc Calumet Library System enjoyed Mary Tooley’s Art in a Suitcase program “Going Buggy” at the Summer Library program Planning Workshop.  Mary, who calls herself the ‘suitcase lady’, says “I like to think of Art In A Suitcase as a little natural history museum that travels. The young people and I talk about the people, places and animals that make planet earth such a wonderful home. Each suitcase is filled with treasures, both natural and manmade. Everything from ancient antlers to Zulu artwork can be found in over 30 cases of props."  In this case, the suitcase was filled with bugs, bugs and more bugs.  Librarians had fun with spider webs and scorpions.  They made giant butterflies, 3-d pictures, origami cicada and even dabbled in metal tooling all geared to this year’s Summer Library Program theme “Catch the Reading Bug”.

Also, ESLS has purchased new Ellison dies to enhance the summer theme.  Those dies include a caterpillar, ladybug and an ant.    Other information that might assist children’s librarians summer story time programming is a link to a website that features thematic story time ideas compiled by Penny Peck of San Leandro Public Library in California. To access this website go to: http://www.bayviews.org/storytime.html.  Thanks to: Children’s Event Organizer (CEO from Lakeshores and Mid-Wisconsin Federated Library Systems) for this helpful link. 

If you would like ESLS to do your SLP handouts please send your masters to Paula as soon as possible. You will be receiving the mazes and word searches soon. Check out Dover Thrift , http://store.doverpublications.com/index.html, they have many inexpensive butterfly and insect items and Insect Lore: http://www.insectlore.com/ for games and more insect shopping.

The 2009 Summer Library Program theme will be "Get Creative @ Your Library" for children and "Express Yourself @ Your Library" for young adults. Themes for 2010 are  "Make a Splash - Read" for children "Make Waves" for young adults.

Library of the Future Summit Update

The Eastern Shores Library System held two public input sessions for the Library of the Future Summit on May 5 and 6 in Green Lake.  The Library of the Future Summit is hosted by the Council of Library and Network Development, a governor appointed council that provides advice to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.  It has been 10 years since citizens, librarians, and elected officials have done any significant planning on the Library of the Future.  Linda Bendix, Director of the Frank L. Weyenberg Library of Mequon Thiensville, Suzanne Zellmann, Instructional Media Center Director at Homestead High School in Mequon, and David Weinhold, Director of Eastern Shores Library System are professional delegates from Eastern Shores Library System.

One of the Library of the Future input sessions was held at the Mead Public Library in Sheboygan and the other was held at the Frank L. Weyenberg Library of Mequon Thiensville.  Participants were asked to speak to the six questions that Library of the Future Summit delegates will address.  Below is a list of the responses to the questions from both sessions.

1.  How will the library of the future contribute to the Quality of Life (QOL) in our communities?

Library has a direct relationship to QOL if it is nimble with technology, and its community understands the need for change.

Library is a common (public) good and there is a requirement for municipal funding/support.

Library provides a balance in entertainment and information. Library is both analog and digital.

Library is center of community life both in a physical sense as well as in the community’s psyche.  Library is a gathering place for book discussions, for socializing, for programs.

Library can bring citizens together, provide the neutral setting, and include ideas of all citizens.

Library needs to collaborate, cooperate, and centralize, but not lose local influence.

Library needs to market itself so that citizens of all ages know how library contributes to QOL.

Library provides equal access so that digital divide and economic divide can be bridged.

Library meets information needs - remotely and electronically - for learning, for recreation, for lifestyle, for informed choices.

Library provides guide through the information wilderness - separates good and valid from bad.  Librarians provide guidance and expertise.

Library of all types cooperate so that library instruction is in curriculum, the library resources are part of the curriculum.

Library instruction includes the evaluation of information.

Library makes information more accessible - state and national efforts make electronic information accessible through libraries.  State should use its purchasing power for purchasing information resources, for the benefit of all citizens.

Library provides resources to raise literacy level of community.

2. How will the library of the future contribute to the Health of our Democracy?

Library resources raise cultural literacy and social literacy levels of community.  Library helps citizens understand cultural groups within community.

Library has tools to make informed choices in life; tools to help people succeed; tools to make citizens active in democratic process.

Library has all points of view for all people.

Libraries are as important as public schools.

Gather stories about the importance of libraries in lives of leaders.

Collaboration of schools and libraries in educating citizens, collaboration with LVW, AAUW, and other non-partisan groups.

Library has ability to provide information fast but must determine quality of info.

3. How will the library of the future contribute to the Educational, Economic, and Workforce Development of the future? 

Better coordination among types of libraries and other social service organizations and employers.

Library can provide resources for online courses - high school; GED; off campus courses, etc.

Library provides space for literacy training, job training, job seeking, and materials to support these functions.  Provides longer hours for access to these materials.  Helps workers retool for different jobs, careers.  Provides info that allows older workers to continue to contribute economically to community.

Library has broadband access to web-based resources for employment and training.

Library continues Summer Reading Program because it is important in success of children in school and beyond.

Library markets its resources that address educational, economic, and workforce development needs.  Library responds to business community needs.  Collaborates with businesses - old and new.

4. How will the library of the future contribute to the Preservation of the heritage and cultures of our communities?

Library digitizes local historical information, makes pictures and records accessible to many.  Allows original to be preserved separate from the daily research.

Library reflects the cultural and immigrant groups of community, both currently and historically.

Library programs can create intergenerational and multi-cultural teams of citizens which promotes understanding and communication.

Library can use programs to collect and preserve local history.  Oral history project is a good example.

Library preserves not only history, but also local art, culture, and music.

5. How do we Design Library Services and Infrastructure to effectively serve every one in the community?

Library asks for what it needs, identifies what is desired, and determines what can be done within budget and within mission.

Incorporate technology infrastructure so that digital have-nots will have access to technology.

Library makes library services effective and convenient.

Marketing is important in library of the future.

Library should reach people in the digital world and the analog world.  Provide for both online socialization and face-to-face socialization.

Library has electronic ability to use experts from all over for service to local citizens.

Library pushes information to people about resources, about opportunities, etc.

State should offer support for building local consensus on building needs and service needs.

6. How do we leverage and Maximize the Investment in education and library services through cooperation/collaboration?

Market the library’s collaboration as useful to community needs.

Take the library to the streets, do not wait for people to come in.

State should encourage multi-type cooperation and library school cooperation.

The expertise of the state’s universities is available to libraries for problem solving and for reference information.

Horizon Pull List

In February, the Library System installed some customized software to create a Horizon pull lists that allowed SLAC to make Mead Public Library the library of last resort for filling EasiCat requests for materials.  This software was approved by SLAC so as to address the net lending status of Mead Public Library.  Mead Public Library will supply the material if the item is not available at any other library in ESLS, or if Mead is the only library that owns the item.

The pull list software is operational.  Early results show that Mead Public Library’s lending numbers have decreased by a few hundred in the first 45 days and that other libraries’ net lending has increased.  SLAC will continue to monitor this.  As SLAC implements the new software that replaces Horizon later this year, they will implement similar features to address net lending among the EasiCat member libraries.

Interesting Items

* The Libri Foundation is a nationwide non-profit organization which donates new, quality, hardcover children's books to small, rural public libraries throughout the United States.  Since October 1990, the Foundation has donated over $3,500,000 worth of new children's books to more than 2,600 libraries in 48 states, including Alaska and Hawaii.

In order to encourage and reward local support of libraries, The Libri Foundation will match any amount of money raised by your local sponsors from $50 to $350 on a 2-to-1 ratio.  Thus, a library can receive up to $1,050 worth of new children's books.  After a library receives a grant, local sponsors (such as formal or informal Friends groups, civic or social organizations, local businesses, etc.) have four months, or  longer if necessary, to raise their matching funds. For more information go to the website at: www.librifoundation.org.

* The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the governing agency that awards the state LSTA programs. The IMLS is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. Eastern Shores Library System has received seven LSTA grants for the 2008 calendar year. For for information on the IMLS go to their website at : http://www.imls.gov/about/about.shtm. 

CEO (Children’s Event Organizer), Issue 312, April 21, 2008
Rhonda K. Puntney, Lakeshores Library System

* The Wisconsin Center for the Book will award four grants of $300 each to nonprofit organizations interested in books and reading wishing to sponsor a Wisconsin author or illustrator at a public, free of charge event. The grants are made possible through the cooperation of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters and the generosity of donors.  Programs must be scheduled between, September 1, 2008 – April 30, 2009.  Groups are encouraged to collaborate.  Such groups may include, but are not limited to, public libraries; public and private elementary, secondary, and post-secondary schools; community organizations; and places of worship.  Libraries are encouraged to look beyond their Friends groups for partnerships.

Applications must be postmarked on or before July 1, 2008 and can be obtained at: www.wisconsinacademy.org.  Go to “About Us”, then “Center for the Book”, then “Grant Application Information”.  Winners will be announced by July 30, 2008

The definition of a Wisconsin author or illustrator: Any author or illustrator who has lived in Wisconsin for a significant period of time, including someone who may no longer be living in the state.

ed2go

* New, from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, School of Information Studies, online instructor-facilitated technology training courses.  Course’s offered include topics such as effective communicating, database management & programming, grant writing, the Internet, basic computer literacy, effective business writing, and consumer service managing.  A complete list of classes is available at www.ed2go.com/uwm.

All courses run for six weeks and include hands-on assignments, project-oriented lessons and quizzes.  

* SCLS Delivery has posted an updated version of the standard "pink" ILL labels on our website.  You can find the labels and instructions on their use at the following URL: http://psw.scls.lib.wi.us/delivery/subdepartments/labels.html . "Each member library shares in the cost of the statewide delivery service network. If you have an item to send to a library but can not find the library in the Delivery Network, then it is not a member, and you must find another means of shipment, i.e. US Postal Service or commercial parcel/courier services."

www.esls.lib.wi.us