The Library Connection

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

Volume 27 Number 6   June 2007

Click here for the Summer 2007 Bookmobile Schedule

Gaming in Libraries

"Gaming in libraries.  Two words you may never have thought to put together-except when discussing a policy to ban it.  And yet, increasingly, those of us in the library field are seeing all types of libraries adding the phrase "gaming and libraries" to their repertoire of services", Jenny Levine, Internet and development specialist and strategy guide for ALA.  In her introduction for Gaming & Libraries: Intersection of Services, she writes "Gaming provides a wealth of service intersections for libraries today and for the libraries of the future."

If you're interested in learning more about gaming in libraries or game based learning check out Jenny's article in Technology Reports, September/October 2006, Vol. 42, Issue 5 (# TS4205,$63 at the ALA TechSource Bookstore) or click on the website below: http://www.techsource.ala.org/ltr/gaming-and-libraries-intersection-of-services.html. You'll find additional reading on the subject in the bibliography and resources chapter at the end of the article. 

The May 25 issue of Neat New Stuff I Found This Week, a listing by Marylaine Block, included a link to Game On: Games in Libraries "a supplement to the Google LibGaming listserv, a forum for discussion of gaming in libraries" at  http://libgaming.blogspot.com/.

Incidentally, the first annual ALA TechSource Gaming, Learning and Libraries Symposium will be held in Chicago on July 22-24, 2007.  If you're interested their website is located at http://www.techsource.ala.org/.

The Lakeview Community Library Story

Darla Jean Kraus, Director

The germ of the idea for library in the village originated with the Random Lake Garden Club in 1956.  Through the interest of public and civic organizations in the village, planning was done in earnest and the library had it’s first home in the annex of Edlee’s Inn on Second Street.  With the Random Lake Village Board appropriating funds to cover the rent and $1,500 to cover the initial costs of start-up, donations of cash, time, furnishings, labor and books from organizations and individuals, the library was opened on April 26, 1957.  By fall it was determined that the space was not large enough! On October 1, 1961 a move was made to the former Times Publishing Company, 405 Second Street. The Port Washington Library donated the furnishings for the library.  The library had registered 642 borrowers, with a circulation of 10,865 (from 1961 Annual Report).  The head librarian was Mrs. Art (Alice) Novotny, assisted by Mrs. John Gasser and Mrs. Ray Weinhold.

In 1969 a lot was donated on Allen Street for library purposes.  In 1970 the Random Lake State Bank building, 430 Second Street, was purchased with the donated lot as partial payment.  The move was made in 1972.  In 1975 the library owned 7,281 volumes with an annual circulation of 15,700.

The Random Lake Community Joint Library Agreement between the Towns of Scott and Sherman and the Villages of Adell and Random Lake was agreed upon on September 8, 1980.

The former Random Lake Auditorium was remodeled in 1995 for the library with the move to the building in 1996. Funding for the project included $300,000 from local government and LSCA federal grant of $125,000. The Friends of the Library provided the remaining $200,000 through fundraising and pledge drives.  The first floor and balcony were remodeled with the lower level assigned for future expansion.  Total books owned in 1996 were 18,734 with an annual circulation of 38,156.  The library added public Internet service in 1998.  Sheboygan County Landmarks, Ltd. gave the library the Outstanding Commercial Restoration Award in 2000.

The Friends were committed to the goal of renovating the lower level of the library for children’s services, workspace and a meeting room.  This project was complete in 2003.  Total cost of the renovation was $200,000.  The library had 2,481 registered borrowers in 2000, owning 25,452 books with an annual circulation of 41,085. In 2006, the library had 3,000 registered borrowers, owns 34,188 books with a circulation of 62,789!!

We have enjoyed phenomenal support from the Friends of the Library and our communities over the years – none of this would have been accomplished without them!!!  Our future dreams include offering a wireless connection at the library and to continue to be a community-gathering place for all ages!

The Lakeview Community Library will be celebrating its 50^th anniversary with an Open House on Wednesday, June 27 from 4 – 8 p.m.  Plans are for activities for all ages including a Student Art Show, a Trivia Contest, and a Garden Décor Workshop. Refreshments will be served.  At 6:30 p.m. Sheboygan Light Rail will perform a free concert playing harmony-driven contemporary folk music featuring 6-string guitar, 12-string guitar, bass guitar, congas, violin, and rhythm instruments.  The public is invited to this celebration sponsored by the Library Board of Trustees and the Friends of the Library.

Head Librarians:

Mrs. Art (Alice) Novotny 1959 – 1969

Mrs. Ken (Marilyn) Borchardt 1970 – 1975

Ms. Darla Jean Kraus 1976 to present

Children's Librarians Corner

Hello Eastern Shores Library Connection

Mary Griffith, Mequon-Thiensville

Hello Eastern Shores Library Connection-happy to be a new LINK!  Officially, I am 6 months new to the Frank L. Weyenberg Library and my name is Mary Griffith and I wear the cloak of Patron Services Manager.  Here is the unfamiliar part-some of those patrons I try hard to serve have yet to be born and/or they barely reach my knee caps!  That's both part of the fun and among the challenges of this position.  I am no stranger to public libraries and I am here to say that kids domain is a different beast altogether- lot's of small press to discover, among them is Piggy Toe Press who understand the three-dimensional aspect but not as a traditional pop-up book.  I am finding some of the books I loved as a child are still found on the shelf - the Little Bear series by Minarik for one and Lois Lenski.  

"Get a Clue" has taken me back to days turned into eve with Nancy Drew.  A must see is the Lost Files of Nancy Drew - with passports, recipes from Hannah Gruen and a glaring lack of information about Bess Marvin, George Fayne and Ned Nickerson!  I exclaimed (like Nancy was always doing!) when I saw it and decided to send one to a now distant Drew swapping partner. I think it is a must have for every library collection.  I am compiling a lot of lists of musts...including getting together with others in ESLS to share our capers and clue-falls of summer 007.

Use SHIIP to Inform

Assoc. of Rural & Small Libraries" ARSL-L@LISTSERV.CLARION.EDU

The Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) is the outreach arm for CMS - the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.  There are 54 SHIP programs in the country, one for every state and some territories. 
 
Each SHIIP program is run differently but the basic purpose is to provide free information and education to people with Medicare through toll-free hotlines, publications, and speakers bureau.   Some states even have volunteers who can do one-on-one counseling with Medicare people.

Libraries are important to SHIIP because they provide a space in the community for volunteers to go to to do the counseling, they also do regular talks at libraries and can display publications.  All SHIIP services are free.
 
Libraries need to know about the SHIIP services to help their community members be informed health care consumers.  Libraries should contact their SHIIP program to get publications to display in their library, set up speaking events, as well as to refer patrons to their SHIIP program. 
 
To find the SHIIP program in your state go to http://www.medicare.gov/Contacts/Include/DataSection/Questions/SearchCriteria.asp#astep2 .. 

Carla Lehn, Library Development Services California State Library

Sheboygan County Speakers Bureau

Peggy Wiedmeyer
Parent Educator, Family Resource Centers of Sheboygan County 

The Sheboygan County Speakers Bureau is now live and functioning on the Family Resource Center website.  Visit the website at  www.frc-sc.org <http://www.frc-sc.org>,  To check for speakers click on the "Speakers Bureau" on the left side of the landing page. 

Interesting Items

* The Literary Awards Committee of the Wisconsin Library Association has chosen New Auburn author  Michael Perry’s  Truck:  A Love Story as the Banta Award winner for 2007.  The award is the highest literary achievement by a Wisconsin author for a work written in 2006.

* The complete text of every Wisconsin Blue Book is now online and searchable. Find it at: http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/WI/subcollections/WIBlueBksAbout.shtml

* Rhonda K Puntney, Youth Services and Special Needs Consultant for the Lakeshores Library System has made their summer reading program materials available on the web. They have also been translated into Spanish. Libraries are able to use them and customize them for their needs.  Find them at: http://www.lakeshores.lib.wi.us/children_services.htm

*The Association for Library Service to Children features a website each month at http://www.ala.org/greatsites.  This month’s selection, Backyard Nature http://www.backyardnature.net is a website featuring Naturalist Jim Conrad.  Visitors to the website can participate in activities relating to geology, plants, gardening and animals and more.

www.esls.lib.wi.us