The Library Connection

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

Volume 28 Number 9   September 2008

Click here for the Fall 2008 Bookmobile Schedule

EasiCat Update

Paul Onufrak, ESLS Automation Librarian, reports that the Polaris implementation is still on schedule.  Newspaper articles have alerted library users to EasiCat's scheduled update.  Onufrak also mentions that responses to the Polaris Train the Trainer sessions were favorable.  "The trainers were good and overall the information presented was helpful," stated Onufrak.  He also distributed copies of a Polaris training Power Point presentation to member library attendees to assist in staff training sessions at their libraries.  Cataloging Librarian Alison Ross, who sat in on many of the sessions noted that the librarians who participated in the sessions were pleased with the improved limiting and sorting features available in the new public PAC.

  New Board Member              

Eastern Shores Library System welcomes Attorney James Hughes as the newest member of the ESLS Board of Trustees.  Jim and his wife, the parents of grown children, are residents of Plymouth.  He is currently serving his third term on the Plymouth Public Library Board of Trustees.  Jim states that his interests include running, basketball and reading.  Jim is a big fan of EasiCat and says "It's like a bookstore at your disposal."  

Children's Librarians Corner

Getting Help from a New "Friend"  

Trixine Tahtinen - Director
& Children's Services, Oostburg Public Library

As I recover from Summer Reading and gear up for autumn programming, I've been looking at ways to revamp my preschool story time.  After 22 years of doing programming I have gotten in and out of story time ruts.  This year it's time to get out of a rut.  With the advent of 4 year old Kindergarten in our community I am anticipating things will be different this year.  Originally we were "the only game in town."  It's quite different now.  

One of the things I decided to incorporate this year is a "puppet friend" to help introduce stories, songs and such.  Research shows that many librarians do this with great success.  The first thing I did was look through my puppet collection to decide which one was going to be my "friend".  I was having a hard time deciding when one day while paging through a vendor catalog I spotted the perfect "friend", Skoob the Shelf Elf Plush from Upstart.  Now that I have Skoob, I am working on some chat scripts for us to begin each story time.  I thought I would share one of my scripts with you.  Feel free to use it if you like.

Book Care (damage) #4 

Skoob:  Hi Mrs. Trix!  I’m here! 

Mrs. Trix: Hi Skoob!  I’m glad you’re here and I hope you have one of your special poems today. 

Skoob: I’m always glad to share my poems.  Did you have an idea of what it should be about today? 

Mrs. Trix: Maybe this will give you an idea.  Look at this book! 

Skoob: Oh, my!  It’s coming apart and parts of the pages are missing!  What happened to it? 

Mrs. Trix: Someone took it home and left it on the floor and their puppy started chewing on it! 

Skoob: That’s awful!  Now the library will have to get rid of that book and nobody will have a chance to read it! 

Mrs. Trix: Yes, boys and girls should remember that it is important to keep books away from their pets and also from their baby brothers and sisters.  Do you have a poem about this? 

Skoob: I know one.  Would you like me to tell it to you and the girls and boys? 

Mrs. Trix: Yes, I would-let’s hear it. 

Skoob:  The name of this poem is “Keep Books Safe”

                        Puppies, kitties and babies too,
                        As they grow, they like to chew.
                        But books are not chewing toys.
                        So keep them safe, girls and boys.
                        Put them away when you are done
                        Then all can have reading fun!

Mrs. Trix: Good idea, Skoob.  Did you know the library has special books for babies.  You can look for them in the library after story time.  Today our stories are about _________________. 

Skoob: Oh boy!  They sound good!  I'll go sit in my house and listen.  I'll see you later!

I also plan to incorporate a "Mother Goose Time" each session.  I have found that children just aren't that familiar with Mother Goose Rhymes which I think is a shame.  So I've made that another one of my "missions" this year.  And finally, I plan to dust off some of the classic fairy tale filmstrips we have and share those with the children.  Using filmstrips is just like having a giant picture book on the wall.  The children are fascinated by it.

So that's my plan to get out of the story time rut this year.  Happy Reading!

Bookmobile Referendum  

On November 4, 2008, residents in the non-libraried municipalities of Ozaukee and Sheboygan Counties will be voting on a non-binding advisory referendum question on bookmobile service.  The question will ask voters if the counties should continue to provide bookmobile service after 2010.  David Weinhold, ESLS director said, "I encourage these non-libraried residents to take this opportunity to vote on bookmobile service."

The Bookmobile service is funded by the Ozaukee and Sheboygan County library tax, which is included in the county’s overall tax in the non-libraried municipalities.  Weinhold said “You don’t see a separate county library tax line, but on a property valued at $132,000, the non-libraried resident in Ozaukee County pays $6.34 for bookmobile service out of the $31.68 county library tax.  In Sheboygan County on a property valued at the same amount, the non-libraried resident pays $5.01 for bookmobile service out of the $42.68 county library tax.”  Weinhold said the balance of the county library tax goes to public libraries as reimbursement for serving non-libraried residents.

The question as approved by the Ozaukee County Board is “Shall Ozaukee County residents in the Town & Village of Fredonia, Town & Village of Belgium, Towns of Port Washington & Saukville and Village of Newburg, who are not served by their own community public library, continue bookmobile service in the 2011-2015 time frame, with stops in the Town and Village Belgium and Village of Fredonia which service, if continued, shall be paid via a county property tax assessed against all Ozaukee county taxable property in the Town & Village of Fredonia, Town & Village of Belgium, Towns of Port Washington & Saukville and the Village of Newburg?”  Yes______No_______

The question as approved by the Sheboygan County Board is:
“Do you support continuing to pay property taxes to finance the bookmobile service?” Yes_____ No_____

The bookmobile travels through northern Ozaukee County and Sheboygan County making stops on a biweekly basis.  Last year over 80,000 items were checked out on the bookmobile.

Using The Report of The Economic Contribution of WI Public Libraries at Budget Time

Linda Pierschalla, Oscar Grady library in Saukville

Every September our Village Board conducts a budget tour of all the Village departments and meets with the department head.  This year I had the 7:30 a.m. time slot (due to Polaris training at 9 a.m.!).  The Village Board came to the library and we went over my department description and 2009 budget request I had submitted earlier to the Library Board for their approval.  During the time I was with the Village Board I was able to point out certain items in my Performance Measurements table that I create and date back from 2003 through 2007.  The Board members were astounded by the large increase in circulation and interlibrary loans.  I also showed them a table I created with the recommended level of service targets and I compare this to where we are as of the 2007 annual report.   We also go over other things, such as how we use the money we receive from the three counties for service to non-libraried non-residents.

Every year I point out how much service we provide to non-residents.  Nearly half our circulation is to non-residents, and more than a third to non-libraried non-residents.  I also point out how the library is a great boon for the downtown area because we do bring in all these people from outlying areas who may then patronize a local business.  This year I provided a copy of The Economic Contribution of Wisconsin Public Libraries to the Economy of Wisconsin at the meeting and the Village President was very intrigued by it.  I pointed out that for every taxpayer dollar invested in a public library $4.60 goes back into the community.  The Village President and Village Administrator urged me to send a copy to our State Senator Glenn Grothman who had told them earlier if they can’t cope with the State imposed levy limit they should close their public library.  This is from the same Senator who sent me a “thank you” card for the work we did in our summer reading program and for spreading the joy of reading!    I’m glad to say both the Village President and Administrator disagree with his earlier statement.  As of today, his copy of the report is in the mail along with a photocopy of a recent article in the News Graphic about the increase of usage at libraries in Ozaukee County.  I hope he reads it!

Services to Seniors

Two opportunities are available for ESLS staff to explore library services to seniors. The first, "Library Services for Older Adults: Mind the Gap" will be held at Manitowoc Public Library Thursday, October 9 from 9:00 to 12:00.  

Nancy Fletcher, Public Relations and Special Services Librarian with the Waukesha County Federated Library System, has taught hundreds of seniors how to use copters. She will share her insights serving this special group and discuss what libraries can do to make libraries and library services more appealing to older adults. In addition to computer classes, Nancy will discuss adaptive equipment: Nintendo Wii and other resources.

Please contact Bob Hafeman at 920-683-4863, ext. 333 or by email rhafeman@mcls.lib.wi.us if you would like to attend.  This workshop is being sponsored by Eastern Shores Library System and Manitowoc Calumet Library System .

The second opportunity will be held at Mead Public Library Tuesday, October 28 and Wednesday, October 29.  The same material will be covered both days.  This "Gadget Workshop" is to help library staff become familiar with new technology items that customers may use.  The Gadget package and training is a service of the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium.  The package will include:  digital cameras, flash drives, mp3 players, iPod, Kindle, Palm, Garmin, Wii and gaming station.

Kim Dalhaimer, Reference Services Liaison, Mead Public Library will be sending out information on this workshop shortly.

Guide for Penny Pinchers

Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton has created a new website, www.GuideForPennyPinchers.com  "designed to efficiently connect Wisconsin consumers with the information they need to help them save time as they search for ways to save money on gas and traveling expenses, home energy, prescription drugs, health care, college tuition, back-to-school savings and more."

The site includes: 
-Helpful state and federal government information 
-Links to useful private-sector and news websites
-Information on ways families can search for the cheapest gas station by zip code
-Tips on increasing gas mileage
-Information on public transportation options in Wisconsin  
-Tips on saving money and energy at home
-Information on homeowner and renter’s insurance 
-Connecting renters with property managers to meet their affordable housing needs
-Back-to-school savings tips
-The Wisconsin Prescription Drug Resource Center
-Information on Wisconsin’s College Savings Program and a list of all the scholarships available to all University of Wisconsin schools.

Interesting Items

* The Family Resource Center of Sheboygan County has a new website http://familyresourcesheboygan.org/ and a new home in Sheboygan at 2508 S. 8th Street.  The phone number remains the same, 920-457-1888 and the e-mail is frc@excel.net.  Be sure to check out the Speakers Bureau under the Community Connections tab.

* The Village of Grafton has joined Recycle More Wisconsin.  Recycle More Wisconsin is a campaign of the Wisconsin Be SMART Coalition (Save Money and Reduce Trash).  The Be SMART Coalition is an award-winning partnership of local municipalities, state agencies, non-profit and environmental organizations, businesses, and schools dedicated to reducing waste, increasing recycling, and conserving resources in Wisconsin.  For more information go to the website at: http://www.recyclemorewisconsin.org/index.php . 

* Register now for the 2008 WLA Conference, Wisconsin Libraries: Building a Better Tomorrow,  November 4-7 at the Marriott Madison West Hotel and Conference Center in Middleton.  Go to the WLA Conference webpage http://www.wla.lib.wi.us/conferences/2008/ for details about programs, meetings and events; daily and “at-a glance” schedules, and hotel accommodations.  Scholarship information is available at: http://www.wla.lib.wi.us/scholarships/CEscholarships.htm .

* Friends of Libraries groups now have their very own national week of celebration! FOLUSA is coordinating the third annual National Friends of Libraries Week, October 19-25, 2008.  The celebration offers a two-fold opportunity to celebrate Friends.  Use the time to creatively promote your group in the community, to raise awareness, and to promote membership.  This is also an excellent opportunity for your library and Board of Trustees to recognize the Friends for their help and support of the library. Go to : http://www.folusa.org/sharing/national-friends-week.php for more information.

* Check out the updated ALA website at  http://www.ala.org/ .

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