Calendar of Events  Home Page 

February 2002
Volume XXXIX, Number 2

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Mark Your Calendars!

On Wednesday, March 27th, at the T.B. Scott Library (Merrill), presenters Mary Clark and/or Garrett Erickson will present an introduction to the new WISCAT, and Terry Wilcox will introduce the new WISCAT ILL software.

The morning session of the workshop, from 9:30-noon, will cover WISCAT PAC administration, including scoping, searching, and updating holdings. The afternoon session, from 1:30-5:00, will demonstrate how to create and manage ILL requests, including using a blank form, and creating subject requests and requests on behalf of another library.

Space is limited so register early! Contact Linda Orcutt at 715.261.7253 (lorcutt@wvls.lib.wi.us) to register.

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Plan to Attend! 
Workshop with Walter the Giant Storyteller

He's six feet seven and a half inches tall and he loves books and children! Yes, he's Walter the Giant Storyteller and he's coming to the Minocqua Public Library on Thursday, March 7th from 9:30-10:30 a.m., for a special workshop for WVLS and Northern Waters Library System librarians, teachers and parents.

Walter's presentation - "If you want kids to love books, you have to love books yourself" - will feature his "one of a kind" demonstration on how to read to children, reading promotion tips, and book recommendations. Workshop participants are also welcome to stay and enjoy Walter's program for area fifth graders at 1:00 p.m. at Lakeland Union High School.

Walter is being brought to the northwoods through a WalMart Literacy Grant, with additional funding from WVLS and Friends of the Minocqua Public Library. Please register via email kaugitto@wvls.lib.wi.us  or phone (715.356.4437) by Monday, March 4th.

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Greenwood Recognizes Longtime Library Employees 

The city of Greenwood recently recognized two employees with long histories of service to the community. Library director, Pat Braun (left) was recognized for 20 years of employment with the city, and library assistant Nettie Berthold (right) was recognized for more than 30 years. In honor of these milestones, Pat and Nettie were presented with plaques by the Greenwood Public Library Board at the library's open house in January.

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WITH APOLOGIES TO MARY POPPINS…

Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet.

He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and, with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath.

This made him…what?

A super-calloused-fragile-mystic-hexed-by-halitosis!!

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Memo from the Director

• It's literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed. (Napoleon Hill) 
• Success depends on the support of other people. The only hurdle between you and what you want to be is the support of others. (David Joseph Schwartz) 
• If you raise the bottom, the top rises. (Jack Stack) 
• The best leader is the one who has the sense to surround herself with winning people. (Anon.)

Update on the WLA Foundation Intellectual Freedom Institute - This event was held on February 4th in Wausau. It brought together 49 leaders from several Wisconsin organizations with an interest in open access to information and intellectual freedom. Facilitated by Debra Wilcox Johnson, the institute attendees sought to identify key intellectual freedom issues and discuss potential future collaborations. A conference report will be issued in late March, with a follow-up meeting tentatively planned for April. For a taste of the issues discussed at the institute read Crisis is Tense Time for Freedom of Expression by Chris Ahmuty, Executive Director of the ACLU of Wisconsin and an institute committee member. (It's available at http://www.aclu-wi.org/outrage 

Give Credit Where It is Due - Nominate your library or your favorite librarian, trustee or community member for one of the Wisconsin Library Association's Awards and Honors. Deadline for applications is June 1, 2002. For more information or an application form, contact Jan Dibble, Awards & Honors Committee Chair at http://www.wla.lib.wi.us/committees/awards/awards.html 

-- Heather Eldred

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Youth Matters 

Annual Mindset List for Entering Class of 2005

Each year, Beloit College (WI) assembles the Mindset List, a compilation of items that indicate the viewpoints and frame of reference of entering students. The vast majority of those first year students are about 18 years old, having been born in 1983, along with personal computers and speculation on the phenomenon of email communications on campus.

Tom McBride, Keefer Professor of the Humanities and director of Beloit's model "First Year Initiatives" program, oversees the formation of the list and its distribution to faculty and staff. According to McBride, "The gap in age between teacher and student increases annually as the faculty remain the same age and students get younger. As faculty start to show signs of 'hardening of the references,' it is important that we think about the touchstones and benchmarks of a generation that has grown up with CNN, home computers, AIDS awareness, 'Just say no,' and the Bush political dynasty."

The list was first compiled by Prof. McBride; Public Affairs Director, Ron Nief; and Director of Institutional Research, Richard Miller, after an informal list developed on the Beloit campus email in 1998. It is now prepared and distributed on the eve of the start of classes at the 1,200 student liberal arts and sciences college in southern Wisconsin. Each year, it is requested by thousands of educational institutions, businesses, churches and others.

"This is not serious, in-depth research," notes Mr. Miller. "It is meant to be thought-provoking and fun, yet accurate."

Following are some of the characteristics from the Mindset List for First-Year Students in the Class of 2005 that was shared with faculty and staff at the 155 year-old liberal arts college as they prepared to welcome the new class.

1. Most students starting college [last] fall were born in 1983. 
2. Ricky Nelson, Marvin Gaye and Laura Ashley have always been dead. 
3. They want to be PHAT but not fat. 
4. IBM Selectrics are antiques. 
5. God has never been a "he" in most churches. 
6. Hard copy has nothing to do with a TV show; a browser is not someone relaxing in a bookstore; a virus does not make humans sick; and a mouse is not a rodent. 
7. Recording TV programs on VCRs became legal the year they were born. 
8. The Social Security system has always been on the brink. 
9. There have always been warnings about second-hand smoke. 
10. Sarajevo was a war zone, not an Olympic host. 
11. There has always been a hole in the ozone layer. 
12. They have always used email. 
13. Jimmy Hoffa has always been officially dead. 
14. Tylenol has always been impossible for children or adults to open. 
15. Volkswagen beetles have always had engines in the front. 
16. Ron Howard and Rob Reiner have always been balding film directors. 
17. They have probably never used carbon paper and do not know what "cc" and "bcc" mean. 
18. Lasers have always been marketed as toys. 
19. Major newspapers have always been printed in color. 
20. They are the first generation to prefer tanning indoors. 
21. Most of them know someone who was born with the help of a test tube. 
22. With a life expectancy of 77 years, they can anticipate living until about 2060.

(For more on the 2005 Mindset List, and for previous lists visit: http://www.beloit.edu/~pubaff/releases/mindset_2005.html

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"You can call them PHAT, but don't call them fat, or at least be sure of the generation you are addressing when you make the observation."

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Info to Go 

Think Now About Applying for the YALSA Great Book Giveaway Competition

Great Book Giveaway Competition VII. Each year the YALSA office receives approximately 1,200 newly published children's, young adult and adult books, videos, CDs and audio cassettes for review. YALSA and the cooperating publishers are offering one year's worth of review materials as a contribution to a library in need. Applications must be received in the YALSA office by December 2, 2002. The estimated value of this collection is $25,000! For an application, go to: http://www.ala.org/yalsa/awards/gbgvii.pdf 

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Feeling Lucky? Pine-Sol Sweepstake Drawing for 2,000 FREE Books

Pine-Sol is giving away 2,000 books from Random House in a drawing that anyone may enter. The winner is allowed to give the books to a local charity or non-profit organization of their choice and receives 50 books for their personal use. To enter, people must send a postcard with name, address and phone number to: Pine-Sol: Stivers Row Win a library Sweepstake; c/o Grand Central Station Post Office; P.O. Box 4681; New York, NY 10163.

People may enter as often as they like, but each entry must be on a separate post card. Entries must be received by March 15, 2002. For more information, contact the Pine-Sol Customer Service Department at 800-227-1860.

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Grant Update 

LSTA Meeting & Public Hearing Set March 6-7

The next meeting of the LSTA Advisory Committee will be March 6-7 at the Best Western East Towne Suites, 4801 Annamark Drive, Madison. The committee will discuss the evaluation of the LSTA program for 1997-2002, develop recommendations for the LSTA program for Wisconsin for 2003-2007, and make recommendations on the grant categories and priorities for LSTA projects to be funded in 2003. Grant applications for the 2003 funds will be due in September and projects will begin January 1, 2003.

As part of the Advisory Committee meeting, there will be a public hearing March 6 from 1-2 p.m. The hearing will give interested individuals the opportunity to offer suggestions and comments on the LSTA program. Those unable to attend the hearing may submit comments in writing to Peg Branson, LSTA program coordinator. Written comments should arrive by 8 a.m. on March 6. Comments or questions should be addressed to Peg at P.O. Box 7841, Madison, WI 53707-7841; fax 608.266.2529; email to peg.branson@dpi.state.wi.us 

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Ezra Jack Keats Foundation

The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation has just announced that, in celebration of the fortieth anniversary of the publication of Snowy Day, $40,000 will be awarded in the Fourteenth Annual Mini-Grants in December 2002 for innovative and imaginative programs in public libraries and public school libraries designed to combat illiteracy. Mini-grants of $350 are available for such programs. The deadline for submissions is September 15, 2002.

Mini-grant applicants must be from the United States, and proposed projects must be exclusively sponsored by the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation. Programs that will be considered include storytelling, innovative or noteworthy workshops, and festivals. Those targeted at parents are also considered worthy. Programs featuring the works of the famed author/illustrator Ezra Jack Keats will be given special attention. Applications for proposals may be downloaded from the new Keats web site: http://www.ezra-jack-keats.org/ 

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Grant Resources

Here's a comprehensive view of federal funding sources from the Department of Labor - a great resource for fund-raising newcomers and veterans alike. http://www.doleta.gov/youth_services/pdf/sources.pdf  (from Jennie Stolz, Eastern Shores Library System as seen in 1/02 Youth Services Liaison Posting)

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The Library Trustee 

Board Members' Bill of Rights

Board members have rights. Beyond the rights of being volunteers, these rights must be upheld by the Board as well as observed by the Staff.

THE RIGHT:

To understand the role of a board member. A board member's role is to represent the community in the work of their organization, and to ensure conformity to mission and the availability of resources necessary to continue doing that work and fulfilling the mission.

To be informed about the work of the group. Ask for regular reports on activities, emphasizing how the library is serving its patrons.

To be heard. A silent board member is an unhappy board member. Members must welcome each other's opinions and feel that their opinions are welcomed by the staff.

To participate in the work of the group. Board members who are given nothing to do are more likely to quit than those that have too much to do. Every board member should serve on at least one committee and/or task force.

To staff support. The staff should spell out specific expectations, write schedules for project completion, provide administrative and research support, recruit other volunteers, follow-up and communicate.

To try something different. Some individuals serve on boards to explore other interests and learn new skills. Don't automatically put the stockbroker on the finance committee. Offer bankers the chance to talk about employee training or marketing people the chance to do fundraising.

To equal treatment. All board members should be held to the same standard. Everyone can afford to contribute… either in time or money.

To relief. Board terms are the only non-lethal way to remove non-active board members. After years of service, a board member may have exhausted his or her capacity to give. Term limits allow for a natural way to bring new 'blood' onto the board.

To be protected from liability. Directors' and Officers' liability insurance is a must. Use special care and skill to ensure proper handling of finances and taxes.

Know where the organization has been, where it's going, what they're trying to do, and for whom. Create a culture and maintain an esprit de corps by frequently reiterating your mission. Conduct planning sessions each and every year. Re-evaluate. Change is not a tragedy; it's what keeps libraries alive! 

(NOLA Notes, NOLA Regional Library System; January/February 2001)

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Trustee Handbook on Internet

The new Wisconsin public library trustee handbook entitled Trustee Essentials: a Handbook for Wisconsin Public Library Trustees is now available on the Internet http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dltcl/pld/handbook.html  Each section of the publication is available in HTML, Word, and PDF formats. A paper version of the handbook will be distributed to all public library and library system board members, and library directors as soon as it becomes available.

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From Hither & Yon

 Laura Bush Addresses Nation's Critical Shortage of Librarians: $10 Million to Recruit New Librarians

First Lady Laura Bush recently announced a proposed $10 million initiative for 2003 to recruit a new generation of librarians. In announcing this initiative, Bush said, "In May 2000, Library Journal magazine reported 40 percent of America's library directors plan to retire in nine years or less. And, according to the July 2000 Monthly Labor Review, in 1998 57 percent of professional librarians were age 45 or older."

Recruiting a new generation of librarians is vital. Research scheduled for publication in the March 2002 issue of American Libraries magazine will show that based on 1990 census data almost 58 percent of professional librarians will reach the age of 65 between 2005 and 2019. Funds will be used to invest in a variety of recruitment efforts.

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On Command 

Phone Fees Rise to Fund E-Rate

AT&T customers began paying 16% more for out-of-state toll calls January 1, 2002 in order to fund telecommunications discounts for public libraries and schools. Long-distance carriers must contribute 6.5% of projected revenues to the $2.5 billion universal service fund, which also subsidizes phone service for low-income and hard-to-reach customers. The surcharge passed on to consumers is now 11.5%, up from 9.9% in 2001; this translates to an extra 32 cents per month for every $20 in toll charges.

The Associated Press reported December 31 that AT&T expects consumer long-distance revenues to drop by 25% or more in 2002. "Because of our declining revenues, we need to recoup the money in order to pay the fund," company spokeswoman Claudia Jones said. "This isn't a revenue generator for AT&T."

Representatives from MCI and Sprint stated that their companies had no plans to raise their current 9.9% e-rate fees. Industry analysts as well as the telecom companies have suggested that the Federal Communications Commission should change the way it calculates the fee and shift the burden away from the ailing long-distance sector.

The increase will not affect the amount available to schools and libraries through the Universal Service Administrative Company that distributes the funds. (American Libraries, February 2002)

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PC World Releases Latest Office PC Test Results

PC World, a personal computing journal that targets readers in offices, has released its latest PC test results and product evaluation. Fifteen models were tested, including seven power PCs and eight value PCs. The former are high-end machines that have a processor speed of 1.2 to 2.0 GHz and cost as much as $3,000; the latter are machines that have a processor speed of under 1.2 GHz and cost as little as $900.

The top rating in the power PC category went to the Polywell 815TS-1260, a 1.26 GHz machine with 256 MB of SDRAM (synchronous dynamic random access memory), two 40.0 GB hard drives in a RAID (redundant array of independent disks) configuration, 16x DVD-ROM drive, 12x/8x/32x CD/RW drive, 19-inch color monitor, Cambridge SoundWorks speakers, and a network adapter. The $1,950 price includes Lotus SmartSuite Millennium Edition, three-year parts warranty, and five-year labor warranty. The Dell Dimension 8200, a 2.0 GHz machine that has been the top-rated power PC in past PC World tests, was pulled from the market by Dell because of supply problems.

The top rating in the value category went to the Micro Express MicroFlex 1200C, a 1.2 GHz machine with 256 MB of SDRAM, 40 GB hard drive, 12x DVD-ROM drive, 17-inch color monitor, Juster 3D speakers, and network adapter. The $999 price includes a four-year warranty on parts and labor.

The Micro Express MicroFlex 1200C outscored several of the machines in the power PC category, as did some of the other machines in the value category.

PC World was not satisfied with most of the monitors offered by the manufacturers and recommends upgrades to models that received high ratings in its separate tests of monitors.

All the test results and evaluations are available in the January 2002 issue of PC World or at www.PCWorld.com. (Library Systems Newsletter, February 2002)

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E-Mail Tip

Have you ever needed to send a message to many people, yet wanted to save them having to wade through a screen full of addresses? The best way to do this is to use the blind carbon copy (Bcc) option.

Typing an address into the Bcc field delivers your message to that person just as it would if you used the Cc field; the difference is that other recipients will not see the Bcc list.

If you use Netscape Communicator 4.x, you can click on the "To:" button to get a dropdown box of choices, click on "Bcc", then insert the e-mail addresses.

If you use Outlook 2000, choose View on the menu bar, click on "Bcc Field," then insert the e-mail addresses. (The Ides of September 2001, Winnefox Library System's Tech Tips Newsletter)

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The Internet 

Snowboarding http://snowboarding.about.com  News, tips and tricks, safety, advice from pros, video reviews, snowboard-friendly resorts and campsites, and more. Find a good introduction to snowboarding at Top Ten Facts. An About.com site. (Librarians Index to the Internet)

Lenten Recipes http://www.echelon.ca/cosmos/recipes.htm  Recipes for the Lenten season, with an introduction about balancing the vegetarian diet. From the Cathedral of the Annunciation and St. Nicholas, Ottawa, Canada. (Librarians Index to the Internet)

Stephen Bell's Keeping Up Web Page http://staff.philau.edu/bells/keepup/  This site's purpose is to help "library and information science professionals develop and maintain a program of self-guided professional development." Toward that end, there are categorized and annotated links to resources in technology, librarianship, searching, Web page design, distance education, and more. (Librarians Index to the Internet)

Two from ABEBooks.Com http://www.abebooks.com and http://www.abelibrary.com/  The first site is a commercial network of nearly 9,000 independent booksellers. Abebooks.com is an excellent source for those users looking for out-of-print, rare, or used books. With a database that offers over 30 million books, the site provides advanced search capabilities, full e-commerce options, and a user-friendly interface. Also of note, the site recently extended into the international marketplace, purchasing JustBooks and, in the process, adding not only French and German books to their network's inventory but also language-specific customer service and purchasing options for French and German customers. Librarians should also take special interest in the second site - a service tailored specifically to the needs of librarians (requires free registration). Both sites facilitate the sometimes difficult process of locating hard-to-find books. (The Scout Report)

Lesson Plans Library http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/index.html  As part of Discovery.com and DiscoverySchool.com, the Lesson Plans Library gives educators a collection of "hundreds of original lesson plans, all written by teachers for teachers." The plans can be searched by grade, subject, or both and are presented in an easy and consistent format with sections on lesson objectives, needed materials, procedures, etc. Printable versions of each lesson plan are available as well as a teaching tools link to create custom worksheets, puzzles and quizzes about each topic. (The Scout Report)

The Wildflower Center http://wildflower.avatartech.com/Plants_Online/Native_Plants/native.html  The former first lady LadyBird Johnson's companion website to the Wildflower Center located in Austin, Texas has the goal "to educate people about the environmental necessity, economic value, and natural beauty of native plants." The site National Directory of Recommended Native Plant Species is a database that allows users to search by common and scientific name, plant family, as well as by state and habitat. Results include attractive photos, general descriptions of the species and horticultural information. The site is easy to navigate and gives practical details that can be used by students, landscapers, or anyone interested in horticulture. (The Scout Report)

Wisconsin WebFair 2002 http://webfair.wisc.edu/  Looking for an opportunity for students to be recognized for their web design skills? The contest is open to all PK-16 students in Wisconsin. (Gordon Hanson, TEACH WI staff)

Genealogy Sites of Interest http://www.usgennet.org/usa/wi/state/county/html  http://www.usgw.org/wi/clark/genboard/  http://www.geocities.com/clarkcountygenealogy/  These sites were down for awhile, but Genboards is now back up and running! Check them out!

Are Your Patrons Shopping for An ISP? Following are some options you can offer your patrons when they are shopping for an Internet Service Provider: About.com's Internet Service Providers http://familyinternet.about.com/cs/freefilteredisps/index.htm  Choosing the ISP That's Right for You http://webnovice.com/isp_help.htm  ISP Resource Center http://techupdate.zdnet.com/techupdate/filters/rc/0,14177,6020610,00.htm  Tips for Choosing a "Monster" Internet Service Provider http://netforbeginners.about.com/?once=true  (The Ides of August 2001, Winnefox Library System Tech Tips Newsletter)

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Calendar of Events

March 7 - "Workshop with Walter the Giant Storyteller" Minocqua Public Library - 9:30-10:30 - refer to the January issue of the Lamplighter for details.

March 11-17 - Bedtime Reading Week

March 16 - WVLS Board of Trustees meeting - Marathon County Public Library - 9:30.

Freedom of Information Day. The American Library Association urges libraries nationwide to celebrate the public's "right to know" by sponsoring activities to educate their communities about the importance of promoting and protecting freedom of information. For a tip sheet and list of resources, go to www.ala.org/pio/foiday 

March 18 - "Basic Skills for Support Staff" - sponsored by UW-Madison School of Library Information Studies - 8:00-4:00 - $78 - 0.8 CEU - contact Linda Mundt at 608.263.4452 for more information.

March 20 - Spring begins!

March 22 - Soaring to Excellence Seminar - "Whatever Happened to Carbon Paper?: a look toward the future for librarians, library assistants and the printed world" - NTC, Wausau Campus - 11:00-1:00. The October 2001 issue of the Lamplighter has more details.

March 27 - "The New WISCAT & WISCAT ILL Software" - a WVLS workshop - T.B. Scott Library, Merrill - 9:00-5:00 - see flyer included with this issue of the Lamplighter for details.

March 29 - WVLS office closed.

April  - NATIONAL POETRY MONTH SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA MONTH KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL MONTH

April 11 - "NetLibrary as a Reference Tool" & "Top 40 Reference Countdown" - a WVLS workshop - Greenheck Fieldhouse, Schofield - 9:00-3:00 - see flyer included with this issue of the Lamplighter for details.

April 14-20 - NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK. This year's theme, @ your library, is part of an ongoing public awareness campaign on the importance of libraries in the 21st century. For ideas on how to celebrate, visit www.ala.org/events/promoevents 

April 15-21 - Children's Poetry Week. Sponsored by the Children's Book Council in collaboration with the American Academy of Poets. For a selection of Children's Poetry Week materials and poetry resources, visit www.cbcbooks.org/html/poetry_week.html 

April 17-19 - "Spring Getaway" - Wisconsin Association of Academic Librarians Annual Conference - Heidel House Resort, Green Lake - for more details visit http://www.wla.lib.wi.us/waal/conferences/waal2002.html 

April 20 - WVLS Executive Committee meeting - Marathon County Public Library - 9:30.

May 1-3 - Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries Conference - Wausau.

May 6-7 - WiscNet Future Technologies Conference - Monona Terrace and Convention Center, Madison - this conference offers a preview of emerging technologies and their potential applications for education - learn more about Internet2, e-learning, IP video, new network technologies, My WiscNet, The Toolbox, and the latest file sharing programs, like Kazaa - details are at www.wiscnet.net/ftc 

DATE: Wednesday, March 27, 2002

TIME: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

PLACE: Community Room, T.B. Scott Library, Merrill, WI

This workshop has two purposes. The morning session will explain how the WISCAT PAC can be customized for each local library. Library staff will be trained in searching the new WISCAT and updating holdings. This session will also include a demonstration of interloan request creation. The WISCAT has undergone significant changes in the move from Brodart to Autographics and this session will highlight those changes.

In the afternoon Terry Wilcox will train library staff to use the new WISCAT Interlibrary Loan management module. The WISCAT ILL module will be replacing QuILL as the means of creating and managing ILL requests. Reference and Loan Library has stipulated that it is mandatory for a library staff member to attend a training session before that library will be authorized for WISCAT ILL. Training over the phone will not be available and QuILL will be taken down within a matter of days after this workshop. Anyone not using WISCAT ILL will have to retreat to using paper or email.

This is not a hands-on workshop but there will be plenty of handouts and ample opportunity to ask questions. Libraries can register for morning, afternoon, or both. Space is limited so be sure to register early and limit registrations to a maximum of 2 people per library.

NOTE: Any person who needs some type of special accommodation in order to participate should notify WVLS at 715-261-7250.

PROGRAM

9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.         Coffee and conversation

9:30 a.m. - Noon         Garrett Erickson and/or Mary Clark WISCAT PAC Admin, searching, holdings update, ILL request creation

Noon - 1:30 p.m.         Lunch on your own

1:30 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.         Terry Wilcox - WISCAT ILL management process - borrowing and lending

Reference Librarians
A WVLS Special Workshop

DATE:   Thursday April 11, 2002
TIME:   9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
PLACE:   Greenheck Fieldhouse  D.C. Everest School District
                     6400 Alderson St. Schofield, WI    (Map below)

NET LIBRARY AS A REFERENCE TOOL

We have this wonderful electronic resource available - how can we use it effectively as a reference tool?

Inese Christmas, head of branch services, has been with the Marathon County Public Library for the past twelve years. She has worked as the WVLS representative to the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium and as the E-book project developer. Inese will demonstrate how to use the Net Library effectively as a reference tool. Highlights will include a WVLS Net Library TREASURE HUNT. (Prizes awarded!!)

TOP 40 REFERENCE COUNTDOWN
With his Top 40 Reference Countdown, Paul Nelson talks about some of the most indispensable resources that everyone providing reference service should know about. Paul compiled his first top 40 list in 1991 and has updated it on a regular basis. It now includes suggested web sites, the technology flip side to his print titles.

Paul has conducted workshops on reference topics since 1988 in the Upper Midwest. He is currently director of the Middleton Public Library, where he spends at least 10 hours per week at the reference desk and is an instructor for the UW-Madison School of Library Studies Continuing Education program.

PROGRAM

9:00 - 9:30      Coffee and conversation

9:30 - 11:30      The Net Library as a Reference Tool

11:30 - Noon      Reference and Interloan tips from the WVLS staff members.  Time for discussion.

Noon - 12:30      LUNCH

A box lunch supplied by the school district will be available for purchase. It will include a turkey or ham croissant, chips, fruit, a cookie, and assorted soda.  The cost for the lunch will be $4.50.

12:30 - 3:00      Top 40 Reference Countdown with Paul Nelson

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ATTENTION: WESSLER SCHOLARSHIPS are available to cover some/all costs associated with attendance at reference and/or interlibrary loan continuing education events. If interested in becoming a Wessler Scholar, contact the WVLS office (715/261-7250) for more information. The application form and more information are available at http://wvls.lib.wi.us/About/wessler.htm 

LAMPLIGHTER

a monthly newsletter of the Wisconsin Valley Library Service
300 N. First Street / Wausau, WI 54403

EDITOR: Marla Sepnafski Phone: 715/261-7252 FAX: 715/261-7259

msepnafs@wvls.lib.wi.us

Contributions are welcome! News items should be submitted by the first of the month.
WVLS serves Clark, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida, and Taylor counties.