The Library Connection
The Monthly Newsletter of the Eastern
Shores Library System
www.esls.lib.wi.us
Volume 27 Number 3 March 2007
Click here for the Winter 2007 Bookmobile Schedule
National Library Workers Day
This year National Library Week will be celebrated April 15 – 21. Tuesday, April 17 has been designated as National Library Workers Day. According to the ALA-APA "NLWD is a day for library staff, users, administrators and Friends groups to recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers." T-shirts, buttons, posters and mugs are available online from their store as well as several suggestions for libraries and for customers to show their appreciation for library workers.
For more information go to: http://www.ala-apa.org/about/ideas.html
Libraries Invited to Join in ALA-APA Library Salary Survey
ALA
Almost 4,000 public and academic libraries are being asked to participate in the 2007 ALA-APA Library Salary Survey. This year, the Librarian and Non-MLS Salary Surveys are combined. The deadline is Friday, March 30, 2007, for completing the Web-based survey.
The public and academic libraries that receive the letter are part of a scientifically selected sample, chosen to reflect the variety of sizes of libraries as well as to ensure that the sample will be statistically significant for state salary data reporting. It is very important that all who are asked to participate respond so that the surveys provide the highest quality information to managers who set and benchmark salaries and for library employees who are in the process of evaluating their career prospects.
ALA-APA will soon launch the Library Salary Database with salaries from 68 librarian and non-MLS positions. Users may choose reports for each position by library type, state and/or region. There is a trial version of the database at http://cs.ala.org/websurvey/salarysurvey/trial/index.cfm. There will be a special rate of $30 offered for the next few months for a one-month subscription to the database, which will have 30-day and annual subscription options.
Children's
Librarians Corner
Partners in Education
Judy Jones, U.S.S. Liberty Memorial Public Library, Grafton
The U.S.S. Liberty Memorial Public Library has participated in a unique program for elementary students in Grafton for the past five years. The Partners in Education Program at the Grafton Elementary School teams grades 1 – 5 with local businesses to help students become more aware of the Grafton Business Community. The program, which began in 1998, now has nine business partners that interact with students and in the process learn about Grafton Elementary School. The goals of the program are:
 | To build a close relationship between the school community and the business community. |
| To educate students about the Grafton Business Community and the career opportunities available in Grafton. |
| To involve community members in the activities within our school environment. |
Karen Thatcher and I were lucky enough to partner with first graders. What a perfect relationship! Early in September, we meet with the two first grade teachers and plan each visit during the school year. The students are becoming independent readers and we can help to instill in them the joys of reading and lifelong use of the public library. The first few months we spotlight aspects of libraries and their importance to the community. Then, we focus on authors that first graders can relate to. We did author studies on Cynthia Rylant, Gail Gibbons, and Eric Carle just to name a few. We round out the school year learning more about Kevin Henkes who is a Wisconsin author. The first graders will incorporate a letter-writing exercise to Henkes, which is part of their curriculum. In June, the students visit the library for a tour and hands on fun. We find this collaboration with the Grafton Elementary School most rewarding because we build relationships with the students early in their school years.
Woman's Day/ALA Essay Contest
Monday Memo, Arrowhead Library System
The editors of Woman's Day magazine and the American Library Association want to know how women used local libraries to help start their own businesses. Announced in the March 6th, 2007 issue, readers have until May 10, 2007 to send Woman's Day and ALA their 700 word (or less) essay. Entry's can be emailed to womansday@ala.org. Four winners will be selected and featured in the March 2008 issue of Woman's Day. The four winning essays from the Spring 2006 contest on how libraries impact lives are also featured in the current issue. The article is also available online at: http://www.ala.org/ala/pio/campaign/sponsorship/womansdaymagazine/librarychangedmylife.pdf
Promotional material for librarians, including a press release,
newsletter copy and Web button can be downloaded at www.ala.org/@yourlibrary.
Click
here for the official rules.
Woman's Day is a Founding Partner of The Campaign for America's
Libraries, the ALA's
multiyear public awareness and advocacy campaign to promote the value of
libraries and librarians in the 21st century.
Microsoft Training Website
Monday Memo, Arrowhead Library System
The Internet4Classrooms website has a variety of Microsoft Word training modules designed for beginning users. On-line tutorials for Word, PowerPoint and Excel are just a few of those offered at the website. The site includes topics such as designing a newsletter in Microsoft Word, inserting and editing images in MS Word and using keyboard shortcuts. A series of "Beyond the Basics" modules are also available to assist those who are ready take the next step.
The website can be found at: http://www.internet4classrooms.com/on-line_word.htm
Economic Benefit Study Released
9 Libraries
Southwestern Ohio's Return from Investment in Public Libraries Nearly 4 to 1
A new study released November 29, 2006 shows that nine public library systems in Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren counties in Southwest Ohio create an annual economic impact of nearly four times the amount invested in their operations. The report from Levin, Driscoll & Fleeter in Columbus concludes that, using a conservative measure of value the libraries' cumulative expenditure of about $74 million returned a quantifiable direct economic benefit of $238.6 million, or $3.81 for each dollar expended in 2005. The study also recognizes that these libraries add significant value to their users and communities that cannot be assigned a dollar value including, "improved economic prospects and an enhanced quality of life."
The full Ohio report information can be found at:http://9libraries.info/. The DPI has other economic impact studies of libraries at their web site : http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/econimpact.html, including a new one by the Urban Libraries Council which was released January 11, 2007 http://www.urbanlibraries.org/jan1006makingcitiesstronger.html.
"Communicating Your Library's Value"
[SENIORSERV] (An open list about library services to senior adults)
Are you looking for a way to promote your library within the community or with local government? If so, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation may have something that can assist you. "Keeping Your Community Connected" an 8 eight-minute DVD and 10 copies of the related brochure can be obtained free by mail at USlibraries@gatesfoundation.org or by searching "Communicating Your Library's Value" at the URL listed below.
http://www.gatesfoundation.org
