Julie Overby and Betty Schuler have joined the staff at Elkhart Lake to replace
Mary Loritz who left to start her own business Stamping Cottage. These
employees will work 10.5 hours each to replace Mary's 24 hours per week.
Julie works at Riverview School in Plymouth teaching multiage Grades 6-8 Social
Studies and Science. She worked in the Plymouth High School Library while
working on her re-certification to teach. Julie was active in the Kindermusik
program and was a private piano & guitar teacher for many years. At Elkhart
she will be working at the circulation desk and handling overdues.
Betty was Director of Instructional Materials at Riverview School in Manitowoc.
She worked extensively in promoting new programs for EEN students and in
developing one unified library for the school. Betty also worked in Kiel and
Kohler teaching Family and Consumer living. At Elkhart she will be working at
the circulation desk, doing book and special displays and working with
processing new materials.
ALTA, the voice, Fall 2003
Jerry Krois, Deputy State Librarian, Wyoming
What is a public library for? We all have perceptions about the multiple uses of
the library.
See if the findings of a multi-state research project match your view. A
national study of libraries of all sizes and in all parts of the country showed
computer usage was the highest activity with 22.5 percent of the building users
sitting at a computer when random counts were taken. This number might be higher
depending upon the number of computer stations in the building.
Standing in the stacks looking at books and magazines ranked as the second
highest activity at 20.5 percent of the users. During the random surveys 15
percent were sitting reading or writing, and 11 percent of those in the building
were at the circulation or reference desk receiving assistance when the surveys
were conducted.
The researchers also found that the majority of individuals used their libraries
to read for pleasure, learn more about a skill, hobby, or other personal
interest, and to find information for school, work, or a community group.
A 2003 survey in a major Ohio library system found that 8 percent of visitors
came to use computers to access the Internet, 64 percent came to check out
materials, and 4 percent came to the library for a place to study.
These findings generate two observations, first is that libraries continue to be
many things to many different residents. During any one visit, a person can seek
business information, enjoyable reading, and hobby information. This multi-value
use must be communicated to the funding leaders who may see the library in terms
of single uses or visualize the eventual demise of the library due to the
Internet.
Secondly, traditional use of the library has not been undermined by the addition
of computers. Public library statistics document circulation continuing to rise
and is at an all time high in many locations.
Officials must know that librarians and boards have to balance purchases of
books, newspapers, and magazines against buying computers, printers and
software, stretching the budget to meet inflationary costs of materials and
ongoing replacement of technology and equipment.
You need to use the findings of such studies and surveys as you advocate for
stable, and even increased funding. Local funding authorities can skillfully
argue against taxation and increased budgets, so you in return must develop
similar skills using your local information to successfully argue the case for
the library.
Sheboygan customers who place holds on materials though EasiCat will now be
notified by Telecirc, an automated phone messaging service. They will receive a
message stating that they have items waiting for them at their library. If the
customer is not home but has an answering machine, the service will leave a
message on the machine. Mequon residents will soon be notified this way also.
The next library to implement Telecirc will be Cedarburg.
Presented by Kelly Krieg-Sigman
Sponsored by Manitowoc Calumet Library System and Eastern Shores Library System
Thursday, October 16, 2003
9:00 a.m. Sign-In
9:30 a.m. - 12 noon Workshop
Manitowoc Public Library 707 Quay Street, Manitowoc
What should you keep? What should you weed? How can you select, organize, and
manage library collections most effectively, even when budgets are shrinking?
Kelly Krieg-Sigman, Director of the LaCrosse Public Library, will offer
perspectives on maintaining collections that are responsive to library users'
needs, with tips on taking an assertive approach to weeding, analyzing
circulation data with an eye to both weeding and fund allocation, working with
collection development plans, and more. Participants are requested to bring
along at least one book or other item that you're not sure how to handle:
something that you're considering for weeding, a donation that you're not sure
is suitable for your collection, or any other "problem."
Staff from all types of libraries are welcome. 3 contact hours for public
librarian recertification.
To register contact Carol Gibson at email: cgibson@mcls.lib.wi.us,
fax: 920-683-4873 or phone: 920-683-4870 ext 33.
Sponsored by Manitowoc Calumet Library Sytem and Eastern Shores Library
System
Thursday, November 6, 2003
9:30 a.m. to Noon - Developing People Skills
1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. - Handling Multiple Responsibilities
Mead Public Library, 710 N. 8 Street, Sheboygan
Developing People Skills - We are in a people profession, working with
customers, coworkers, and community decision makers. This workshop reviews the
skills needed for effective customer service, including dealing with difficult
situations. These people skills are the same as those needed to work with our
coworkers and others in the community.
Handling Multiple Responsibilities - All of us are feeling overload at
work. This workshop explores techniques for managing your work and offers a wide
range of suggestions for more effective use of your time. Getting things done
means seeking a balance between work and home.
Debra Wilcox Johnson is a partner in Johnson & Johnson Consulting, a firm
specializing in management, evaluation, literacy, and training.
There are 2.5 contact hours towards recertification for participation in either
session of this workshop.
To register contact David Weinhold at email: weinhold@esls.lib.wi.us, fax:
920-208-4901, phone: 920-208-4900 ext 12.
This month's idea from the publication "Adults with Special Needs: A
Resource and Planning guide for Wisconsin's Public Libraries" by Barb
Huntington and Coral Swanson is from the chapter on Speech and
Hearing."Remind staff that if a person who uses sign language approaches
them to ask for assistance, the first step is to ask verbally how they would
like to communicate. they will likely indicate that they can read lips or that
they will use paper and pencil. Let the patrons choose the method they prefer to
use. They may signal their preference by pretending to hold a pen and paper and
write."
* BWI has updated The Public Librarian's Guide to Graphic Novels. To get a free
copy contact Donna Merideth in the BWI mailroom at 800-888-4478 ext. 226 or dmerideth@bwibooks.com
* Harry Potter, En Espanol - Lectorum will publish the Spanish version of Harry
Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in January 2004.
* 2003 ALA Conference Audio cassettes are now available from the Reference and
Loan Library website atwww.dpi.state.wi.us/dpi/dltcl/rll/indav.html Use
a blank WISCAT form and put the ALA tape number and the title on the Title Line
of the request.
* Preparing for a newspaper interview? Check out http://www.PublicityHound.com
The Publicity Hound's Tip of the Week. Asking a reporter to read the story
before it is printed is bad form. So is claiming you were misquoted when you
weren't. There are far better ways to handle this dilemma. They
include:--Prepare for interviews and know what you will say so you put your best
foot forward and not in your mouth.--Ask reporters to fact-check a story with
you before it is printed.--Ask reporters to read back your quotes so you can
correct any inaccuracies.
As book budgets get cut, librarians look for new and creative methods to
continue to provide materials for their customers. Many libraries are posting a
list of books they would buy if they had the money on amazon.com, the online
bookseller. Libraries from around the country report an overwhelming response to
this method of philanthropy. Customers select the book(s) they want to buy and
they are delivered to the library. Go to amazon.com, select Wish List and follow
the directions.
If you are struggling with how to use netLibrary books and how best to help your
patrons make use of this valuable resource or if you just haven't had time to
learn anything about netLibrary, then this course may be just right for you.The
course is free to all WPLC librarians and library staff. Send an email
registration to Mark Beatty (mbeatty@wils.wisc.edu). The online course is
delivered using a courseware system called WebCT, which is hosted at UW-Madison.
It is 100% web based. You will need a PC, running current version web browsing
software, and an internet connection. Although it can be slow at time, folks
have taken the course successfully with a standard dial in phone service
internet account.New for this occurrence of the course are Continuing Education
Clock Hour Credits. You will receive 5 Clock Hours when you successfully
complete the course.
The course consists of 4 lessons and is delivered at the rate of one lesson per
week. Students read lessons and complete assignments on their own schedule
during each week. Assignments require posting responses to a built into the web
courseware discussion area, responding to other students discussions and
corresponding with the instructor. Course lessons are:Getting Started with
netLibrary, Helping your Patrons Get an Account, Searching netLibrary, Reading
netLibrary Books.
The scheduled course will start on the week of Monday October 13th and run
through the weekend of Sunday November 9th.
A new training resource page has been added to the Department of Public
Instruction's BadgerLink site. The page is linked under the "help"
column on the BadgerLink homepage and is available directly at the following
URL:http://www.badgerlink.net/training.html
From here, BadgerLink users can view a list of training opportunities currently
scheduled with our full text vendors and register online. All training sessions
from both our vendors employ web conferencing technology which allows
individuals or groups to attend real-time training using a standard web browser
to view the session and a phone for the audio portion. Registrants will receive
a confirmation email from the vendor with session log-in instructions after
signing up.If you have any questions about these sessions or the technology
involved, or if you have specific training needs you'd like to discuss, please
contact James Leaver, BadgerLink Coordinator, at 888-542-5543.
So, I'm the new children's librarian, and what seems new and exciting to me may
seem blah and pedestrian to the rest of the children's librarians in the
system... you never know.
I've been here in Cedarburg for almost a year now and have made some positive
changes. In addition to our regular weekly story time, for three to five year
olds, I've added a story time for two year olds soon to be expanded into a
toddler time for one to two year olds sometime this winter. This past spring and
summer I tried out a "Kids' Club" in which I read a book (Holes
and then the new Harry Potter) to school age kids, treats included, in an effort
to provide more school-age programming while not a failure, the program was not
a real success either local kids seem so busy, it was difficult to get a good
turn-out. This fall we're having the fine folks down at Discovery World put on a
program, a storyteller is coming to tell creepy tales at Halloween, and I'm
having a party to celebrate the release of Lemony Snicket's newest title in the Series
of Unfortunate Events.
Even though some days I feel like I'm just muddling my way through programs, I
have to say that my first summer reading program was a success! We had 740 kids
register, a significant increase from last summer, and about half of them came
in to claim prizes. In addition to our prizes for eight and sixteen hours, this
summer I offered a challenge to kids who read 150 hours. I didn't tell the kids
what the prize was they were guessing things like a new car (I pointed out to
the nine year old who suggested this as a prize that it was unlikely as he
wouldn't be able to drive for several years) and a trip to Disney World; the
prize was far more pedestrian than something so fabulous the winner got to
choose any book that s/he wanted and then we ordered a new copy of the book for
him/her. Forty kids completed this challenge and the winner was very happy with
her prize. In addition to the reading aspect of the program, we also had weekly
"shows" to entertain the kids. These events were definitely a success!
The two most successful programs were David Stokes, who I'm sure lots of you
know, and Karl Debelack. David brought all kinds of animals and allowed the kids
a real hands-on experience. Karl made bubbles and then (again with the hands on)
the kids went outside and made some huge bubbles of their own. Fun was had all
around and I wholeheartedly recommend these men to all of you!
I'm still trying to get a feel for what library users in the community are
looking for. What I've learned so far is that they'd be happy if I had story
time every day for every age group. It's been a great first year here in
Cedarburg and I hope to have many more here. Thanks to everyone for helping me
out during this past year!
Put the two together and you have breakfast! General Mills is bringing Yu-Gi-Oh!
to the breakfast table. The limited edition, honey-sweetened corn cereal is
shaped like triangles representing Yugi's Millennium Medallion. The cereal box
is designed with holographs, and also allows fans access to exclusive monster
information through trivia questions on the side of the box. Answer the
questions to get code words to gain entry to the exclusive site found at www.yugioh.com.
Eat your breakfast on the run? There are cereal bars, yogurt, and fruit snacks,
too.
The Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) is a unique and vital gathering
place for all who are interested in youth literature. But the CCBC's reach
extends far beyond the walls of the library. At the CCBC web site, you can find
"40 Books About..." which is a monthly series of subject
bibliographies in honor of the 40th Anniversary of the Cooperative
Children's Book Center. The subject headings are: Arts, Family, Labor,
Spanish/English Bilingual, Sports, Survival, Writers and Writing, and Wordless.
Advice for creating an educational and entertaining experience at the library:
1. Know your audience. (Do market research.)
2. Wear your guests' shoes. (Stand in line. Experience what they do.)
3. Organize the flow of people and ideas. (It should make sense.)
4. Create a "wienie" (a dominant visual image that excites and
attracts the eye).
5. Communicate with visual literacy. (Don't rely on words)
6. Avoid overload. (Keep it simple.)
7. Tell one story at a time. (Have a theme and stick to it.)
8. Avoid contradictions. Be consistent.
9. Provide an "ounce of treatment and a ton of treat." (Focus on
rewards. Minimize rules.)
10. Keep it up. Maintain your identity.
South African writer J.M. Coetzee was awarded the 2003 Nobel Prize for
literature. The author of such novels as "Disgrace' and "Age of
Iron" currently teaches at the University of Chicago. He is the author of
eight novels (check EasiCat for availability), as well as a number of essays and
other words. His new book "Elizabeth Costello" is due out this month.
On September 10 and 11 WiscNet hosted a demonstration of anti-spam software at
the Pyle Center on the UW campus in Madison. The demo was sponsored by WiscNet
and eWeek magazine. There were six major anti-spam vendors invited, and my job,
along with several other WiscNet members, was to evaluate the anti-spam software
for possible use by WiscNet for its members. Out of the six programs
demonstrated, two really stood out in my evaluations as reliable and
comprehensive enough for WiscNet''s use. The major difference between the two
programs centered on administrative control, or how much control the local user
had over the configuration of the anti-spam filters. One program allowed each
user control, the other program allowed control to the system level, but not the
individual level. For the past week I have been using the local control anti-spam
program, as a test with WiscNet, to see how it works in a library type setting.
As WiscNet progresses through the process of selecting a possible anti-spam
filter I will keep the libraries updated.
In cooperation with DC Comics, the American Library Association created for Fall
2003 a poster and bookmark featuring Neal Gaiman's Sandman, with originalk art by P. Craig
Russell. The headline "A Book Is A Book You Hold in Your Hands,"
celebrates Gaimn's Sandman mythology, the comic book medium, literacy and
storytelling. Visit the ALA site: www.alastore.ala.org to place your
order.
In an effort to promote library services to the community, Crandon Public
Library has created a series called "Especially for You!" Through
"Especially for You!," special interest groups visit the library for a
short presentation on what a great resource the public library is for them.
Pertinent resources are displayed, and special attention, i.e., refreshments and
discussion time, is provided to the visiting group. Crandon Public Library began
the series with local educators, and then daycare centers, and most recently,
the Chamber of Commerce. The library looks forward to hosting the health and
wellness providers in the area sometime soon. The community has been very
receptive to this experience and has voiced their enthusiastic appreciation.
For more information about the "Especially for You!" series, please
contact Karen Guth, Crandon Public Library Director at 715/478-3784 or kguth@wvls.li.wi.us
The University of Wisconsin Digital Collections website provides quality digital
resources from its academic libraries to UW faculty, staff and students,
citizens of the state and scholars at large. It was created in the summer of
2001 to be the utility that digitizes, provides access to, and maintains digital
projects.
Currently available are the Belgian-American Research Collection, Ecology and
Natural Resources Collection, the State of Wisconsin Collection, and the
Wisconsin Pioneer Experience.
The site also provides access to local library digital collections at the
campuses located in Eau Claire, Madison, Milwaukee, Oshkosh, Stevens Point,
Stout, and the Wisconsin Historical Society. It is possible to view passenger
lists, read letters written by Wisconsin residents, check an obituary database,
see photographs of homes owned by Belgian settlers in northeastern Wisconsin, or
listen to oral history recordings of life as it was in Wisconsin years ago.
Wisconsin is bordered by more than 800 miles of Great Lakes shoreline on the
north and east, and more than 190 miles of Mississippi River shoreline on the
west. We are framed by water and have an abundant supply of high-quality water.
2003 has been declared Wisconsin's Year of Water to celebrate our plentiful
water resources and also to make us aware of the threats to those resources.
The UW Water Resources Library in partnership with UW-Madison Libraries and the
Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters has created Wisconsin's Water
Library to assist those participating in Year of Water activities who want to
learn more about water issues. The Water Library is a collection of almost
30,000 volumes of water-related information plus links to additional sources on
the Web.
During the Year of Water, any Wisconsin citizen can check books out of the
library. An individual can request up to five items, which will be mailed. They
can either mail the items back or return them to their local public library.
Wisconsin's Water Library receives delivery through the state delivery network.
Begun in 1998, the Choral Public Domain Library (CPDL) is a free sheet music Web
site which provides scores, primarily for choral music. It currently offers
users over 5,000 scores to choose from -- most of which are in the public
domain. Users can search the CPDL database using composer or title or browse by
composer's name. The project lists over 200 volunteers who have contributed
scores to the Web site; while new users can join CPDL and submit their scores or
link their own sites and scores. CPDL also offers a newsletter which users can
subscribe to and a nicely organized Related Links section.
There is a new OCLC web page that actually allows you to see the OCLC
collaborative in action. About every eight seconds a new record appears --
titles in a variety of formats and languages. Each record shows the library that
created the record. Nylink, an organization for all types of libraries in New
York published the following in their newsletter: "This visual
representation of what we are doing is eye opening. WorldCat is not just another
commercial database. It is the manifestation of the labor and commitment of
libraries and librarians around the world working together to share intellectual
capital and knowledge."
Bob Bocher, Technology Consultant
DPI, Division for Libraries and Technology
There have been several posts over the past few days on filtering. Please note
the following:
1) Several good references on this topic have been posted to the list. See the
"Sources for More Information" section in the DPI's CIPA FAQ at http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dltcl/pld/cipafaq.html
. The ALA CIPA site and the ALA Internet Tool Kit are good places to start.
2) To get a perspective on the number of public libraries in WI that filter, see
the last graph on the page at http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dltcl/pld/netauto.html#internet
. It may be of interest to note that of the 318 public libraries (82%) in 2003
that are not filtering, 203 or 64% are getting E-rate discounts or using LSTA
funds for Internet access. These 203 libraries will need to decide if they will
comply with CIPA's filtering mandate to maintain E-rate or LSTA funding for
Internet access. In informal conversations I have had with many library and
system staff, very few of these libraries will decide to filter. First Amendment
issues aside, for many the decision will be one based on budget. That is,
filtering software will cost more to implement and maintain than the current
funding the library is getting via E-rate /LSTA. (Note also, that many libraries
get Internet access via their library system's Wide Area Network. This type of
access has implications on how filters are implemented at the local level.)
3) The ALA E-rate Task Force is working on a filtering spreadsheet budget
template that should be available on ALA's CIPA site (www.ala.org./cipa)
within the next week. The Task Force is also working on a more detailed RFP-type
of document to help libraries develop a list of questions they need to ask
filtering vendors when reviewing specific products. There is no time frame for
release of this.
4) Bocher is willing to meet with library boards to discuss the filtering issue.
Note, the DPI's position is that filtering is a local decision and any
information he gives will focus on informing trustees regarding the
advantages/disadvantages of filters. The DPI simply wants to help trustees get
as much information as possible on this subject to help them make informed
decisions.
