Shirley Lemke, Director of the Frances L. Simek Library Medford, was chosen to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Medford Chamber of Commerce. Her nomination stated, "Shirley has been an integral part of numerous activities such as the new library project being completed with phenomenal community support; development of a partnership between Taylor County and Medford to fund library services; establishing the Friends of the Medford Library; start-up of an exciting children’s Summer Library Program; formation of the Medford Library Foundation to ensure future support of library service; and record-setting library circulation. Her community spirit and genuine concern for everyone makes Shirley an ideal candidate."

Lemke’s community activities include: seven years as a Chamber Ambassador; member of the Wisconsin Library Association and Secretary of the Wisconsin Association of Public Librarians, a division of WLA; Chair of WVLS’ Library Advisory Committee; Chair of WVLS’ V-Cat Council - a shared automation system; Director (since 1991) of the Friends of the Medford Library; Medford Education Association member; Wisconsin Education Association member; mentor for the Wisconsin Center for Academically Talented Youth; member of the League of Women Voters; Holy Rosary Sunday school teacher; Medford Leadership graduate and paint-a-thon participant; Project Business teacher for Medford Area Public Schools; member of the Hulls Lake and Lake Esadore Associations; member of the Black River Rock Dodgers Snowmobile Club; secretary and member or the board of directors for the Medford Women’s Bowling Association and President of the Ladies City League; Badger Representative and president of Badger Women’s Curling Association; and member of Women’s Softball. Shirley was also President of the Medford Ladies Golf, and President and Treasurer of the Medford Lochettes.

Shirley graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a bachelor’s degree in education. She was the Summer Rec Director for the City of Medford in 1959-60. She was a teacher in the Medford Area Public Schools for 14 years before becoming the library director 17 years ago. She has also been a director/officer for the County Library Board and District Library Council. Shirley also worked with the Medford Scouting Program; the Medford Centennial; Town & Country Days, and the United Way board.

Shirley will retire from her position as Director of the library at the end of February, 2001. (Adapted from an article in the 12/21/00 issue of the Medford Star News)

Elizabeth Scully, Head of the Technical Services Division at the Marathon County Public Library (Wausau), has been selected to receive the "Right Stuff" Award…an honor bestowed by Marathon County on a county staff person who has significantly improved their work environment and/or services to county residents.

Elizabeth has directed the installation of the library’s second generation automation system. This project, which began last year with the development of a Request for Proposal, included evaluation of possible automated system and contract negotiations. It involved very extensive pre-installation design of the system. The project is still continuing as details of equipment installation and the setup of the operation of the system are being worked out.

She has demonstrated outstanding leadership throughout this project by providing early opportunities for staff whose jobs did not include using a personal computer to become familiar with PCs even before it was required for performing their jobs; by involving an automation team in the design and setup of the system; and by showing extreme personal dedication to the successful implementation of the system. Her constant study to increase her personal expertise is an example and encouragement to other staff to put forth individual effort to learn.

She has put in long hours throughout the project. She has also maintained a calm attitude in the face of great pressure. This leadership, dedication, and attitude have facilitated the momentous transition from a simplistic automated system to a complex personal computer-based system. She continues to work toward making the system work for everyone and looks to new products that can make the system even better.    (The Rumor Mill, December 2000/January 2001)

Mark your calendars for Tuesday evening, January 23, 2001. Candidates for the office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction have been invited to participate in a public forum to be held at the Nicolet Area Technical College Theater.

So far, nine candidates have announced for the state office. They are Tom Ballistreri (Milwaukee), Jonathan Barry (Mt. Horeb), John Burke (New Berlin), Elizabeth Burmaster (Madison), Linda A. Cross (Waupaca), Anthony Evers (Omro), Dean P. Gagnon (Waunakee), Marc Gumz (Baraboo) and Janet E. Van Asten (Appleton). A primary election on February 20th will narrow the field to two candidates for the Spring general election on April 3rd.

The State Superintendent of Public Instruction administers state and federal funding and coordinates policy and consultant services for public schools and libraries in Wisconsin, including curriculum standards and professional certification. Wisconsin is the only state where citizens elect a State Superintendent as a State Constitutional officer. It’s a chance for voters to focus on issues that will shape public education for years.

Although individual candidates for State Superintendent have visited the northwoods prior to past elections, an opportunity of this type is unusual north of Hwy. 29. It is anticipated that the forum will be broadcast by WXPR public radio. Streaming audio through the www.wxpr.org/  website will enable anyone with computer access to listen in.

The format will allow each candidate a specific amount of time for statements and answering questions. Questions will be solicited from the education and library communities and distributed to the candidates before the forum. There will also be an opportunity for extemporaneous responses to audience questions. Chris Oatman, WRJO/WERL (Eagle River) News Editor, will moderate the discussion.

The event is being organized by a growing coalition of library and school organizations including the School District of Rhinelander, the Wisconsin Educational Media Association (WEMA), the Wisconsin Library Association (WLA), the Wisconsin Valley Library Service (WVLS) and the Northern Waters Library Service (NWLS)

Please spread the word about this forum…it’s a wonderful opportunity to meet the candidates and hear their views.

Congress passed the Labor, HHS, and Education Departments appropriations bill (HR 4577) with the Internet filtering amendment included. ALA reports that the language includes the phrase "technology protection measure" which means a specific technology that blocks or filters Internet access to material on content harmful to minors.

The filtering language applies to all schools receiving ESEA Title III or E-rate funds and all libraries receiving LSTA funds for computers or Net access or E-rate funds. This legislation will obviously have a major impact on the 50% of schools and the 90% of public libraries in Wisconsin that do not currently use Net filters.

According to an ALA e-newsletter: "The filtering rider mandates that libraries and schools use valuable resources to install and maintain unreliable Internet filters, or be stripped of key federal funding. With this bill, the federal government has seized control over families and communities and blocked their power to make decisions about the ways they protect their children."

If you want to review this issue, go to the ALA website www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/filtersandfiltering.html  It has a wide variety of information on filtering including first amendment issues, censorship, guidelines for developing an Internet use policy statement, filtering software FAQs, and similar resources. Also, don’t forget about the WLA website for legislative information www.wla.org 

  Memo from the Director

"What is more important in a library than anything else – than everything else – is the fact that it exists." (Archibald MacLeish)

I was at a meeting recently where the use of certain categories of state funds was being discussed. You know the type of discussion …should the money go for automation?…For all libraries?… For certain groups of libraries? Should some/all of it stay at the state level for a statewide project?…You get the idea.

I’m commenting on this meeting not because of the almost totally predictable subject matter of the conversation but because, in that meeting, I actually heard some of Wisconsin’s library leaders state - or at least strongly imply - that the larger libraries in Wisconsin should not be held hostage to the needs of the poorer, smaller libraries. They felt dollars should go to the larger libraries with the larger staffs and collections which serve large population centers (or go to library consortia) because those libraries have the resources and are ready to develop new services and programs whereas the small libraries and/or the state would use these dollars to continue basic services that the larger libraries had already accomplished or no longer had a need for.

I almost couldn’t believe I was hearing these kinds of words from people who I think should be fighting for improvements at even (or maybe even most specifically for) the smallest libraries! While a few of Wisconsin’s libraries no doubt serve the majority of the population of the state, there are many, many more libraries which serve communities of fewer than 2,000 people. Should their access to and use of special funds be limited/eliminated just so the ‘big guys’ or the ‘rich kids’ can play with fancier toys? I think not!

I am glad for the good fortune of any library which has adequate financial support…and I’m not overly supportive of the idea of using particularly federal funds for on-going projects… but I strongly believe that a major purpose of state and federal funds is to help provide an equitable level of library service to all residents of this state - not just to those who can afford to move forward.

In the same vein, smaller, more rural, library systems, like WVLS, also feel like they are being left behind. The more populous/ powerful systems get a much larger piece of the state dollar pie which supports systems, making it extremely difficult (and sometimes impossible) for the less populous and poorer systems to meet the needs and desires of those they serve - not to mention the statutory requirements.

A few years ago a new, fairer, formula for the distribution of state aid to library systems was enacted into law...see WIS. STATS. 43.24. It was approved by almost every member of SRLAAW (System and Resource Library Administrator’s Association of Wisconsin). This was VERY good. However, the new formula can’t be implemented until Wisconsin funds its library systems at 11.25% of the previous year’s municipal expenditures for public library service because, if it were to be implemented at a less than 11.25% funding level, the larger/richer systems would have to take a cut in their state aid.

So, even though we almost all agree that the old funding formula is unfair and even though the statutes have been changed to recognize that unfairness, many systems continue to get less state aid than they should and then they are criticized and accused of being backward…of not being able to keep up.

Wel-l-l-l-l…..…Hel-l-l-l-l-l-o!

I know it’s an old adage that an organization (as a chain) is only as strong as its weakest link…but that doesn’t make it an untrue adage.

Our legislators will soon be working hard to develop a new biennial (two year) budget for our state. That budget includes The Department of Public Instruction’s 13% funding level for library systems. The law says DPI must submit a budget calling for 13% support for systems. The Legislature doesn’t interpret that requirement as meaning that they have to appropriate funding at that level…hence the problem.

I’VE HEARD IT SAID THAT, "WHEN YOU NEED A HELPING HAND, YOU SHOULD LOOK AT THE END OF YOUR ARM." So, please get your writing utensils out and send letters to your legislators and to the Governor telling them how important 13% system funding is for services and programs available at your own library through WVLS. Tell them about the development of V-Cat and your current or future role in it…tell them about the use your patrons make of rotating collections of large print books and audio cassettes at local public libraries, nursing homes and apartments for the elderly…tell them about the importance of an expanded system subsidy of interconnected delivery systems so that libraries can afford the increased levels of interlibrary loan brought on by automation…tell them about the importance of providing continuing education opportunities in our own system area so that library directors can maintain their state-required certification and other library personnel and trustees have a convenient place to go to increase their library-related knowledge…tell them that we can’t continue to support the dual tracks of both print and electronic resources without help from the state…tell them that on-site consultant services are important especially as they relate to developing/expanding services to children, young adults, and those with special needs. ..tell them to remember that public libraries and the systems which work with them are ready to provide great service, but we need help.

Remind them that Wisconsin Act 150 requires counties to provide better financial support for their public libraries and that counties and municipalities which support public libraries cannot decrease their support beyond the level of the previous three years…stress the need for a strong state level financial role in this ‘access to information’ partnership.

Feel free to tell them that while we could really use 13% funding to provide better services to our residents, it’s imperative that they at least raise system funding from about 10% (where it is now) to at least 11.25% so that the new distribution formula can take effect.

Don’t shrug this responsibility off thinking that someone else can write better letters or someone else knows more than you do. YOU are the only one who knows what increased support from WVLS might mean to your library and its services. Ask your trustees to write letters too. Ask your regular users to write as well...even postcards are good. Legislators tell us that they are really impressed when users of a service speak up. If you really can’t bring yourself or others to write, at least call the toll free Legislative Hot Line (800-362-9472) and leave a message for your state legislator/s saying that you want them to support increased funding for library systems…13% if at all possible but AT LEAST 11.25%.

If we aren’t all willing to speak up then I guess we can’t blame our legislators for thinking that library services aren’t all that important in terms of the state budget.

It’s like voting…unless you participate, you aren’t entitled to criticize…or to crow!

The Children’s Internet Protection Act was passed by Congress and is expected to be signed into law by President Clinton, setting up a likely legal showdown with the ACLU, Electronic Privacy Information Center, and the American Library Association. The ACLU has vowed to take legal action against the act, which was attached to the huge appropriations spending bill. The act forces schools and libraries to use software filters to protect children from pornography on the Internet; those that do not comply will lose federal funding for computers and Internet access. Claudette Tennant, assistant director of the ALA’s Office for Government Relations, labels the bill "an intrusion into local decision-making." Bruce Taylor, president of the National Law Center for Children and Families, defended the bill accusing ISPs of doing little to protect children on the Internet. Privacy advocates claim that the bill’s language is overly broad. Meantime, the online civil liberties group Peacefire has launched a new product that supposedly disables all popular Internet filtering programs. (As seen in Monday Memo, 12/27/00…from Wired News 12/19/00)

The V-Cat is continuing to expand. WVLS has received a 2001 LSTA grant to add three more public libraries to V-Cat in 2001. The public libraries in Owen , Dorchester and Westboro will be barcoding their collections during the early part of 2001 as the first step toward joining V-Cat. Owen already has a T1 line and will be the first of the three libraries to fully use V-Cat.

Thirteen public libraries and the WVLS office are now using V-Cat. The V-Cat has over 250,000 bibliographic records, and about 49,000 holdings with almost 43,000 registered patrons.

The V-Cat WebPAC will soon be one of the links on the WVLS homepage and then patrons with valid borrowers cards will be able to place holds on items from sites other than the library. Users will also be able to see the holdings of all V-Cat libraries and the shelf status of items.

All of this has been accomplished in the last three years. The first step in the process was the implementation of the M&M grant which enabled the Medford PL to join with the TB Scott Library (Merrill) to create a shared system…V-Cat has brown a lot since then. - Linda Orcutt

Of the many advantages of the Internet, the most prized is speed. The Web promises users on-demand access to information and resources from all over the world. Consequently, delays, lockups and slowdowns can really ruin an Internet surfer’s day. When racing down the Information Superhighway, no one wants to wait.

If your browser routinely takes minutes to load every page; if you are sick of tearing your hair out while the screen painstakingly displays each superfluous image on the site you seek, don’t despair. Below are 20 strategies, ranging from quick and easy tips to larger-scale renovations, all designed to make your surfing experience swifter and more efficient.

1. Reduce keystrokes…many browsers - including Netscape - have been configured to assume the "http://" In fact, Netscape browsers can even assume the "www" and the ".com." Be careful, however…this does not work for URL addresses with a prefix other than "www" or a suffix other than ".com" (.org., .edu, and .net, for example).

2. Right click…don’t use the toolbars along the top of your browser - they will only slow you down. If you are using a PC, concealed, pop-up menus are located all around the browser screen. In order to access one, simply right click

3. Turn off images…Most browsers automatically load images located on the pages you view. If you have come to a particular site for a bit of information, and not to look at the pictures, this can cause a tremendous delay in the loading of the page. In Netscape, go to the "Edit" menu and choose ‘Preferences," Then click on ‘Advanced,’ and uncheck the box next to ‘Automatically load images.’ (The same options are available on Internet Explorer 5.0 in the Tools menu under "Internet Options.") If you decide you want to view a given image, just click on the box and it will be loaded.

4. Turn off other time wasters…You can avoid time draining blinking and flashing ads by disabling the ActiveX and/or Java programs on your computer. In Netscape, choose ‘Options/Network Preferences,’ click the ‘Languages’ tab, and uncheck ‘Enable Java.’ This command may be found under ‘View/Options/Security’ in Internet Explorer. ActiveX may also be disabled here.

A number of procedures can be followed to prevent withdrawn books from coming back to the library. On the Small Library Management electronic list last March, Belinda Boon, continuing education consultant with the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, cautioned libraries to avoid the negativity that comes from a patron’s finding books dumped in a trash bin. "No amount of explaining weeding and collection development criteria will wipe out the bad press that can come from one indignant (though well-meaning) individual who decides to draw attention to the fact that ‘the library is throwing away books!"

In the past, Boon says, discarded books were ripped apart before being thrown away. Today, books that must be thrown away should be put in sealed boxes or, better yet, in heavy-duty garbage bags. Other steps in the disposal process are to remove the barcode (or blacken it with an indelible marker) and stamp "Withdrawn" over the property stamp wherever it occurs. (from Currents, South Texas Library System, 10/2000…as seen in the 12/2000 issue of Library Administrator’s Digest)

Charles Robinson, Editor of the LAD said, "The advice given by Belinda Boon…is certainly worthy of attention. Any library that has just thrown withdrawn books in the dumpster has experienced the frustration of seeing them returned by well-meaning individuals…blackening barcodes and stamping "Withdrawn" on them, really helps keep them from being returned to the library." Robinson goes on to say, "The best method of getting rid of unsold and unwanted books is no longer acceptable. Years ago every large central library had an incinerator in the basement which took care of the problem. Those haven’t been used for years, presumably for environmental reasons."

Updates have been made to the WVLS INTERLIBRARY LOAN MANUAL which reflect changes in interloan policies and procedures that include V-Cat. Also included are the revised report/reply codes which are used to respond to your requests. The updated manual is available on the WVLS web page.  The changes or a copy of the complete manual can be printed if you prefer to have a paper copy available. Staff members who work with interlibrary loan should become familiar with the manual and use it to process requests effectively - including when to request a substitute edition and/or a deadline date, and when to create a subject request. If you have any questions or comments about the manual -or any questions about interlibrary loan, please feel free to contact me at (715) 261-7255.         - Ellen Buchberger

The Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning (DLTCL) now has a Public Library Policy Resources web page that provides resources and tools to help with the development of local library policies. Resources on this web page (http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dltcl/pld/policies.html)  include links to the policies of many Wisconsin public libraries.

The page also has links to the second Wisconsin public library trustee-training module, which covers the development of essential library policies. Wisconsin library boards have the ultimate responsibility for approving local library policies. The decisions made in the development of library policies have a significant impact on the internal operations of the library, the public image of the library, and the value of the services provided to the public. The new trustee-training module provides guidance to help libraries develop new policies and review existing policies.

The DLTCL trustee training modules are provided as one tool that can be used to support trustee training and trustee continuing education. The modules are fairly short (the new one has 16 slides) so they can be used during a library board meeting for a brief review of issues of importance to library trustees. They can also be used for one-on-one or self-directed training.

A PowerPoint version of this new module is also available for downloading from http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dltcl/pld/ppt/policies.ppt.

Feel free to print and copy the modules for use in trustee training as well. Questions and suggestions concerning these modules can be directed to Mike Cross at (608) 267-9225 (michael.cross@dpi.state.wi.us).

Where do you go to find the latest information about legislative issues pertaining to libraries? Why, the WLA website, of course! Paul Nelson, Chair of the Library Development and Legislation (LD&L) Committee, has created a table which quickly summarizes the background and status of each key library issue, along with the key message we are trying to communicate. If you don’t wish to print out the complete table, you can peruse the list of pending library bills to see what’s up.

The site also has links to the website of the Division for Libraries, Technology and Community Learning which also has a wealth of information about pending legislation. You can also link to the State Legislature’s website, with an easy search feature for finding the complete text and history of any bill. (The DLTCL and WLA sites, however, are usually updated far more frequently).

If you have any comments about and/or suggestions for improvements to the legislative information on the WLA website, please email wla@scls.lib.wi.us For general comments, contact the WLA webmaster, Paul Onufrak, at ponufrak@esls.lib.wi.us

The much talked about "digital divide" cuts many ways. It’s an economic divide between rich and poor, but it’s also a racial, generational, geographic and educational divide. "Those who think there is no digital divide are not poor, don’t live in the inner city, don’t live in rural areas, aren’t older," said Wisconsin state Senator Robert Jauch during a session at the Fall 2000 WLA conference.

Describing the large population of those who have access, Aldona Valicenti, chief information officer of Kentucky and moderator of the session, offered numbers:

¨ More than 80% of computer users over the age of 45 have access to the Internet

¨ It is estimated that 6.9 trillion e-mail messages will be sent in the year 2000

¨ 82% of this year’s college graduates will search for careers online.

¨ By 2003, nearly two-thirds of all American households will be online.

But Jauch, chairman of the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Committee on Communications and Information Policy, is keenly aware of those who lack access, and of government’s role in getting them access. "The Internet is the great liberator, the greatest equalizer we’ve ever had" he said. (Governing, October, 2000 as seen in Library Administrator’s Digest 11/2000)

NOTE: An article credited to Bonnie Berlin (aka Bernie Bellin) Director, Lakeshores Library System was printed in the November, 2000 issue of Library Administrator’s Digest. ‘Bonnie’ could not be found to grant specific permission to adapt the article so I am taking the liberty of doing so anyway.

Joan Lloyd had a column in the 7/2/2000 Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel about teen workers. Her comments supported what I had always told teenagers whom I hired for part-time work at the public library. I am afraid I was even a little stricter than Joan Lloyd was. Perception is a major factor when working in a public place.

When I offered a job to teens I told them I was very aware that this was the first job where they would be paid an hourly wage. In addition to the booklet that they would get on the rules and regulations of being an employee, I told them that I viewed this job as a huge learning experience for them. I wanted them to know that I would be very tolerant during their learning curve on the ins and outs of their job. However, I stressed that there were some things I would not tolerate. Some of my "don’t go there" rules follow…they are not in priority order…

¨ Other people are counting on you being where you are expected to be. Everyone works as a team. If you will be late or can’t make it to work, WE NEED TO KNOW THAT. Telling us after the fact it not sufficient or acceptable.

¨ You may wear your hair any way you want. However, if it interferes with your job or the public, it will need to be modified. It is my decision as Director or the decision of your supervisor if it interferes with a job or is a safely hazard.

¨ We do not have a dress code. But the following are not allowed: T-shirts with slogans or compromising language or pictures, torn and revealing clothing, or shorts.

¨ Visiting with friends (other than normal greetings) is not allowed while on the job

¨ A page would be told that they were hired to do the specific job of keeping the materials on the shelves in usable order. The importance of doing that job correctly was explained, i.e., no other staff members could do their jobs correctly/efficiently if the materials were not kept in order.

Did I lose students because of my rules? Yes.

Did I want to compromise on my rules? No.

Occasionally I would ask students to leave if there were problems with several of my rules during the first week. When not dressed appropriately, I allowed students to go home and change or turn the T-shirt inside out. After the first time, turning the shirt inside out was not an option.

Some kids questioned the reason behind the rules, but understood that there would be rules regarding their conduct wherever they worked. I told them that each job site would have its own set of rules and they would have to adjust to them.

Learn to view your patrons as the job, rather than an interruption of the job.

Understand that your co-workers are internal customers and treat them with the same respect you do your patrons.

Service excellence starts at the top. As a manager, what you say about service is not nearly as important as what you do. A patron-focused operation is created when the person at the top believes that service is so critical to the success of the operation that he or she invests time, resources and effort to make it happen.

86% of the message the patron gets over the phone is from the tone of your voice. By using inflection, pacing and volume, you can achieve a great telephone voice. Telephone etiquette can impact your service on the phone. Knowing the proper telephone etiquette for answering the phone, putting a caller on hold, and transferring calls is important.

Patrons need friendliness, understanding, empathy, fairness, options or alternatives, information and, above all, service.

From Customer Service for Dummies by Keith Bailey, Karen Leland, and Karen Dunn. IDG Books Worldwide, 1995. Adapted by Barbara Jamieson. (As seen in the Spring, 2000 issue of Check-Out, the newsletter of WLA’s Circulation Services Roundtable)

Attention Northern Wisconsin, Minnesota and Upper Michigan librarians, teachers, parents, reading specialists and members of the general public who are interested in learning about the best books for young people! You are invited to attend Children’s Book Fest 2001, a two-day conference held at the Rhinelander Holiday Inn (Rhinelander, Wisconsin) on March 13 and 14.

Ginny Moore Kruse and Kathleen T. Horning from the nationally acclaimed Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) in Madison, Wisconsin will discuss books for children and young adults at an evening presentation on Tuesday, March 13, as well as at a day presentation on Wednesday, March 14. Both sessions will include a CCBC exhibit of the best 2000 books for young readers. Most folks choose to attend one session or the other, but you won’t be turned away if you decide to stay overnight and come to both. Please note that separate registration (sent to two separate places) is required for the evening and day sessions.

Ginny and Katy, along with Megan Schliesman are the co-authors of CCBC CHOICES, an annual recommended best books list. Children’s Book Fest participants will receive a free copy of the 100-page booklet as part of their registration package.

Complete registration information about Children’s Book Fest was sent out as part of the December, 2000 Lamplighter. You can also get the information by sending an email or SASE snail mail request to the attention of Kris Adams Wendt at the address below. All registrations must be received no later than March 9. Payment must accompany each registration blank. No purchase orders, please.

The Children’s Book Fest evening presentation on March 13 includes time from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. to browse through the CCBC Book Exhibit. An informal light supper buffet will be available between 5:00 and 6:30 p.m. followed by the main presentation by Kruse and Horning from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Additional time to examine the CCBC Book Exhibit and talk with the speakers is scheduled from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. Parents and educators may attend just the evening presentation for $6.00 or make a reservation that includes the light supper buffet for $12.00. Prices include CCBC CHOICES, other booklists and a CCBC honorarium.

The Children’s Book Fest day presentation begins on March 14 with registration and morning refreshments at 9:00 a.m. At 10:00 a.m., the two speakers will discuss current trends in children’s literature and present slides featuring the best books of 2000. The registration fee of $12.00 for the day includes refreshments, a buffet luncheon, CCBC CHOICES, other booklists and a CCBC honorarium. Participants will have the opportunity to examine the CCBC Book Exhibit during the first hour of the day and again in the afternoon following lunch. Plans include an opportunity on both March 13 and 14 for individuals to purchase award-winning books highlighted by the speakers through an independent arrangement with Brown Street Books of Rhinelander.

This is the fourteenth year that Headwaters Reading Council, the School District of Rhinelander and the Rhinelander District Library have invited the Cooperative Children’s Book Center staff to bring the newest and best books for young people to Northern Wisconsin. Additional assistance is received from the Indianhead Federated Library System, Northern Waters Library Service and Wisconsin Valley Library Service.

A GOOD HUMORED DISCLAIMER: Children’s Book Fest is organized and administered on a purely voluntary basis by a dedicated coalition of children’s book lovers which rises out of the mists annually like "Brigadoon" and has virtually no clerical support. Mass mailings of registration information are sent out as an in-kind contribution by the three co-sponsoring public library systems mentioned above to their member libraries only. No other mass mailing lists are maintained and used from one year to the next in order to keep registration costs at an affordable level. We are likewise not equipped to provide registration confirmations or verification of attendance for the 300 plus registrants. Cancelled checks serve as receipts.

 Calendar of Events

January 23 - A Northern forum to hear from candidates for the position of State Superintendent of Public Instruction is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the Niclolet Area Technical College.

January 24 – "Business Writing For Results." $159. Fred Pryor Seminars. 9:00 – 4:00. Wausau, Park Inn International Hotel. For more information contact www.pryor.com  or phone 800-255-6139.

January 26 - April 27, 2001 – Collection Development ETN course $375. 3.0 CEUs UW-Madison School of Library and Information Studies. For more information contact Linda Mundt at LEMundt@facstaff.wisc.edu 

January 30 – "Discrimination and Harassment Issues In Wisconsin." $229. Lorman Education Services. Sheraton Madison Hotel, Madison. For more information contact www.lorman.com  or phone (715) 833-3940.

January 30 – "Grammar & Proofreading Made Fun and Easy." $125. CareerTrack Training. 9:00 – 4:00. Wausau, Park Inn International Hotel. For more information contact www.careertrack.com  or phone 800-334-6780.

February 9 – "Basic Skills for Support Staff," an exploration of library user concerns. $78. UW Wisconsin-Madison. 8:00 – 4:00. Madison, The Pyle Center University of Wisconsin, Madison. For more information contact www.polyglot.lss.wisc.edu/slis/academic/ces  or phone (608) 262-7942.

February is Library Lovers' Month

February 5 - April 15, 2001 - "Basic Cataloging - an Internet Course." $385. 3.0 CEUs For more information contact Deb Shaprio at dsapiro@slis.wisc.edu  or 603/262-7942.

February 7 - "Conquering Workplace Negativity." $149. CareerTrack Training. 9:00 - 4:00. Wausau, Park Inn International Hotel. For more information contact www.careertrack.com  or phone 800-334-6780.

February 9 - "Basic Skills for Support Staff." $78. UW-Madison. For more information contact Linda Mundt at 608-263-4452 or LEMundt@facstaff.wisc.edu.

February 12 - "Stress Management for Women." $39. Institute for Professional Businesswomen a division of Pryor Resources, Inc. Wausau, Park Inn International Hotel. For more information contact www.pryor.com or 800-255-6139.

February 13 – Library Legislative Day at Inn on the Park, Madison.

February 16 - 2001 WVLS SLP Workshop (see flyer)

February 20 -21 - "Finance & Accounting Basics for Non-Bean Counters." $395. National Seminars Group. Wausau, Park Inn International Hotel. For more information contact www.natsem.com  or 800-258-7246.

March 13 and 14 – Children’s Book Fest 2001. Rhinelander (see December Lamplighter for flyer)

2001 WVLS SLP Workshop
Friday, February 16, 2001
9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Wausau Room, Marathon Co. Public Library
300 N. 1^st Street, Wausau

9:30-10:30 a.m. Susan Pagnucci, "Reading Road Trip U.S.A." Traveling with stories, games, crafts and decorations, get ready to hit the "reading road" with Susan and her entourage of hand puppets, shadow puppets and a boa constrictor.

11:45-12:30 p.m. More Make & Take and How We Run Our Programs Good: Join us for this informal opportunity to chat with WVLS colleagues, pick-up handouts and browse through table talk displays on great ideas, programs, and services to try with kids.

Please respond by Tuesday, Feb. 13th to Beth Sillars at WVLS, 300 1^st St., Wausau, WI 54403 (715-261-7255 or sillars@wvls.lib.wi.us)

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