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April 2004 |
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NOT EVERYTHING THAT COUNTS CAN BE COUNTED*
We just recently finished our annual reports. The 2003 WVLS Statistical Report is due to be distributed in the next few weeks. We collect lots and lots of numbers and we share those numbers with our state library agency, our users, our trustees, our municipal officials, and our state legislators. If numbers are the way to measure the value of libraries, then we are certainly successful.
However, we who work in and for libraries know that what really spells success is the difference libraries make in people’s lives. From the grandmother who learns to use the Internet and email to communicate with grandchildren around the globe, to the toddler who has his first experience with the beauty of language and the excitement of hearing a classic story, to the investor who relies on our reference resources to track her stocks and bonds, to the commuter who relies on books on tape for entertainment and education, to the ‘downsized’ worker who uses the library to brush up on his resume-writing and interviewing skills, to the 3rd grader who improves her reading skills over the summer through a reading program, to the genealogist who attends meetings at the library to learn how to research her ancestors, to the adult non-reader who comes to the non-threatening library venue to meet with his tutor so he’ll finally reach the day when he can read to his grandchildren…libraries make a difference in people’s lives.
Technology has made a tremendous difference in library service. With it, we can keep track of many more statistics! With it, our users can ‘see’ the holdings of all members of our shared system at once – just as though all those materials were housed in one location – and they can access those holdings from anyplace that has an Internet connection. Not too long ago we were told that libraries would go out of business because all one would need is a computer. It hasn’t taken very long to learn that libraries are needed more than ever. It is one thing to know how to use a computer for word processing or accounting and totally another to search and retrieve accurate information. Librarians who have the skill to organize and methodically search for information that can quickly be retrieved are in great demand.
Just as libraries provided access to information through printed materials, by means of public workstations, libraries now bring technology to those who cannot afford their own computer or access to the Internet.
Making a difference in our lives, in our cultures, in our thinking, in our ability to get along with our neighbors…..Making a difference! That’s what libraries do best.
* As Albert Einstein said, "Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts."
--Heather Eldred
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Library Services for
Latinos |
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| 9-9:30 a.m. | Coffee and Conversation | |
| 9:30-11 a.m. | Lydia Albright, secretary of Latinos Unidos, and Becky Boller, outreach coordinator for Comunidad Hispana, will share their experiences in working with Hispanics/Latinos in north central Wisconsin. They will focus on the needs of this population and the community agencies working to serve them, as well as helping us to avoid common cultural mistakes. | |
| 11 a.m.-noon | Habla espanol? Learn some basic library Spanish words/phrases. (Each grant library will also receive 2 Franklin electronic translators.) | |
| Noon-1:15 p.m. | Lunch on your own | |
| 1:15-3:15 p.m. | Katy Hornung and Megan Schliesman of the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) at UW-Madison will highlight outstanding books with Latino content (in English and bilingual), and discuss evaluation tools/issues for building Spanish language/bilingual collections. | |
| *This free
workshop is presented with support from a 2004 LSTA grant and is open to
all.
Each participating WVLS grant library is expected to send at least one representative. Directions to Cedar Creek Mall: Take Exit 185 off I-39 at Business 51 to plenty of FREE parking. (The mall’s community room is located at the center of the mall) |
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Policies for Results Workshop
The first course of study offered in PLA's e-Learning series is "Creating
Policies for Results," is based on the popular American Library Association
(ALA) publication, Creating Policies For Results-From Chaos to Clarity.
Participants will work with the publication's authors Sandra Nelson and June
Garcia, as they encounter real library policy problems. Participants will gain
useful knowledge, skills, and judgment that will enable them to produce useable
policies tailored to their individual libraries. The curriculum features
interactive exercises, collaborative work, and online chats with instructors and
colleagues. Each participant will have approximately six months to finish the
course, and then another six months access to the e-learning@PLA system.
Interested parties are encouraged to enroll in one of following sessions: * May 24, 2004, * June 28, 2004, * July 26, 2004 (Registration closes one week before the start date of the session.)
Please note that course curriculum will supplement information provided in Creating Policies for Results-From Chaos to Clarity, and participants will be expected to have access to a copy of the publication before they begin the course. The book is available via the ALA Online Store at www.ala.org or by calling the ALA Order Department at 1-866-746-7252.
For more information regarding "e-learning @ PLA," please contact the PLA office at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 5752.
Read All Year Long at Thorp Public Library!
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Thorp Public Library recently purchased refrigerator magnets for their patrons
who were not used to receiving receipts when checking out library materials.
Renee Hermsen, Thorp Public Library selected the magnet to provide a convenient
way for patrons to attach receipts of what was checked out with hours that the
library is open.
The response from library patrons using the magnets was very positive. So much so that the magnets are now being distributed at the circulation desk to patrons asking for them, to students during class visits, and to new cardholders when they sign up for library cards. And, at 49 cents each, this little piece of publicity didn’t break the library’s bank! |
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| If you are interested in providing refrigerator magnets to your patrons, contact MagnetStreet for a catalog at: MagnetStreet; 1749 Naperville Road; Suite 200; Wheaton, IL 60187; info@Magnetstreet.com; or telephone 800/438-3210. | |
Effective April 23rd
Parental
Access to Library Records Law
Officially published as 2003 Wisconsin Act 207, the Parental Access to Library Records law became effective on April 23, 2004. (See www.legis.state.wi.us/2003/data/acts/03Act207.pdf for the text of Act 207.) Generally, Wisconsin law prohibits the release of records that identify an individual who uses a publicly funded library (Wisconsin Statutes Section 43.30). Under current law, this information can be released only with the consent of the individual or by court order or under certain circumstances) to other libraries for interlibrary loan purposes. Act 207 amends Section 43.30 to require that a library that is in whole or part supported by public funds must disclose to a custodial parent or guardian of a child under the age of 16 any records relating to that child’s use of the library’s documents, or other materials, resources or services.
According to Library Hotline (4/19/04), Wisconsin joins six other states that have passed similar legislation in the past three years. They are Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Ohio, South Dakota, and West Virginia. A similar bill is making its way through the legislative process in Alaska.
Young People Need Family Support
Based on research conducted since 1958, Search Institute has identified 40 developmental assets that all young people need to grow up to be healthy, principled and caring adults. The more assets a young person has developed, the more likely they are to make positive choices. Conversely, the fewer assets a young person has developed, the more likely they are to become involved in risk-taking behaviors. It has been found nationwide that most students have fewer than half of these 40 assets.
The list of 40 developmental assets as well as tips for focusing on each one is too long to include in its entirety here, but may be requested from Beth Sillars at the WVLS office (715/261-7255 or sillars@wvls.lib.wi.us). Following is the featured asset for April:
April Asset: #1
FAMILY SUPPORT
Young people who have this asset feel loved and supported in their family.
Tell your children that you love them. Tell them again. Don’t assume they know how much you care – tell them over and over again. Let your love for your children show in your eyes, your smiles, your voice and your body language. Give them more hugs. Eat at least one meal together every day, even when you are strapped for time. The act of sitting down together at the table and sharing time, space, food and conversation is a powerful way to support each other. Keep mealtimes positive – avoid using this time to discuss bad grades, your son’s fender bender or this morning’s late start. Try to spend time with each child individually every day. Ten minutes at the end of the day may not seem like much, but it provides the opportunity to connect and let them know they are important. Take care of yourself and be loving toward your spouse or partner. Children learn to love by example.
YALSA Announces 2004 Alex Awards
Ten adult books that will appeal to teen readers have been selected to receive the 2004 Alex Awards. Titles were chosen by the Alex Award Committee of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). The Alex Awards are:
(CEO, LLS and MWFLS Youth Services Update, 4/15/04)
Vote for Wisconsin History with "Turning Points"
The Wisconsin Historical Society is building a website called "Turning
Points in Wisconsin History," with free access to materials and documents
on key events from Wisconsin’s past. Materials are intended to address the
performance standards for social studies issued by the Wisconsin Department of
Public instruction (DPI), and to help teachers align their curriculum with these
standards. Educators, students, and parents will be invited to vote online for
decisive events in Wisconsin history. Historical Society staff will build the
digital collection to reflect the interests identified. Voting will begin May
15. To learn more, visit www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints,
where you can sign up to stay informed about this exciting project. If you
have questions, e-mail turningpoints@whs.wisc.edu
The 10-digit ISBN, one of the most widely used identifiers in bibliographic databases, will be expanded to 13 digits. The standard is being revised in order to avoid running out of numbers and to align the ISBN with the longer Global Trade Item Number (GTIN).
The current draft of the ISBN standard calls for the change to be implemented
January 1, 2007. This change will affect publishers, distributors, retailers,
and libraries. In library systems, ISBNs are used throughout every module for
such functions as searching, ordering, duplicate detection, and interlibrary
loan. Because of the prevalent use of ISBNs, it is not too soon for libraries to
discuss with their library system vendors about how they should start preparing
for the change now. For more information, visit www.nlc-bnc.ca/iso/tc46sc9/isbn.htm
Tips for the Workplace:
Look Inside, Not Elsewhere, for Success
Change management consultant, Morris Shechtman, author of Fifth Wave Leadership: The Internal Frontier (Facts on Demand Press, January 2003), believes we need to "look inside ourselves for solutions to our work-related problems." Following are some of the tips he provides in the article "Thirty Tips for the Workplace: Look Inside, Not Elsewhere, for Success" (as seen in What to Do About Personnel Problems, March 2004):
For a copy of the complete article, contact the WVLS office. For more of Shechtman’s advice, go to http://www.FifthWaveLeadership.com
Library & Baseball Promotion this Spring
"Join the Major Leagues @ your library"
is a program developed by the American Library Association (ALA), Major League
Baseball, and the Major League Baseball Players Association. The program
celebrates and promotes two of America’s oldest institutions – baseball and
libraries – while heightening awareness of 21st Century literacy skills: the
use of computers and other media to obtain information and improve
communications. For complete information, and to register for the program, go to
http://www.ala.org/ala/pio/campaign/sponsorship/jtmlhome
A new program poster featuring Major League Baseball players will be
available free of charge to libraries and library branches while supplies last.
The first 100 librarians to register will receive a set of Jackie Robinson
"History lives @ your library" bookmarks from ALA Graphics. By
registering, librarians will also receive access to other promotional materials
once the program officially launches to the public, including downloadable
artwork and a resource toolkit.
(edited from IFLS NewsFlashes, 4/21/04)
Ironically, it is difficult to find web sites that explain basic web concepts simply and interactively. Following are a few that were mentioned in the April 2004 issue of Searcher: The Magazine for Database Professionals, in ‘OTFOOO’: On-the-Fly, One-on-One Training for Patrons by Irene E. McDermott:
Duh, Plants: Getting Started With Gardening for the Black Thumbed
http://www.gardenerspath.com/articles/blackthumb/
"I know you think you can’t grow anything, that plants and people do not
mix, and that any plant entrusted to you has been given a death sentence. Many
people feel this way. I am here to help. … We won’t mention any plants by
name, or assume you know much of anything. This is for the
botanically-challenged."
(Copyright 2004 by Librarians’ Index to the
Internet, LII; LLI New This Week for April 1, 2004)
Guide to Wheelchairs and Assistive Technology: USA TechGuide
http://www.usatechguide.org/
"A Web Guide to wheelchair and assistive technology choices, wheelchair
views and reviews, and related information and articles. Promoting user
involvement in the selection of appropriate assistive technology."
BBC Sport: Olympics 2004
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics_2004/
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Sport’s coverage of the Olympic Games
planned for Athens, Greece, in August 2004. Includes Olympic history, athlete
profiles, a venue guide, a schedule of events, news stories, photos, and video
and audio clips. Also covers concerns over security.
Athens 2004 Olympic Games
http://www.athens2004.com/athens2004/
The 2004 Olympic Games may be several months away, but preparations have been
going on for many months, and the city of Athens is looking forward to hosting
its first official Olympic Games competition since 1896. As one might expect,
the site’s main page offers a veritable cornucopia of information on visiting
Athens, accommodations, ticket information, and a special area designed for
young people. Additionally, the site also provides extensive material on the
Paralympic Games, which will also take place this summer. Visitors will want to
take a look at the key dates section, as it offers details on when and where
each competitive event will take place, along with the ever-popular opening and
closing ceremonies. The site has some nice extra features, such as volunteer
applications for the Games, e-cards to send to friends and family, and
information on the extensive transportation infrastructure improvements added to
the urban fabric of Athens for this historic event.
Planning a trip to a national park this summer?
Check out these sites:
National Park Foundation
www.nationalparks.org
This is a multifaceted blend of park profiles, printable travel guides, kid’s
programs, maps, interactive photography, and more.
U.S. National Parks Net
www.us-national-parks.net
This independent site offers extensive information on just about every U.S.
national park. It gives details about each park’s location, weather, and
accessibility, as well as the park’s unique features, such as wolf guide
(Grand Teton), the bat flight (Carlsbad Caverns), or tidepool tips (Channel
Island).
Drugs@FDA
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/
Drugs@FDA provides one place where you can search for official
information about FDA approved brand name and generic drugs, and trace their
regulatory history.
969P Music Kit
For
more information on this kit visit the
WVLS AV & Programming Materials Page
May – Get Caught Reading Month –this is the perfect time to hype your Celebrity Read posters to remind people of the joy of reading. Instead of hanging them in the library though, why don’t you ask to post them in a few other places – the cafeteria or entryway in an office, the lobby of a school or corporation, the post office or movie theater in a town, or the student lounge or administrative buildings of a campus. Put flyers or brochures next to the poster telling people what the library can do for them. (Marketing Library Services; March/April 2003)
May 3-4 – National Library Legislative Day – Washington, D.C. – for details, see article in February 2004 issue of the Lamplighter.
May 8 – WVLS Board of Trustees meeting – American Legion Clubhouse - 9:30 a.m.
May 13 – "Using the Web to Deliver Library Resources and Services" – Pyle Center, UW-Madison – 0.7 CEU - $85 – for more information, contact UW-Madison SLIS Continuing Education Services at cesinfo@slis.wisc.edu or call 608.263.2942.
May 14 – WVLS Library Advisory Committee meeting – Rhinelander District Library – 9:30 a.m.
May 14 - "Communicating: Using the Web to Reach out to Library Users and Supporters" – Pyle Center, Madison – 0.7 CEU - $85 - for more information, contact UW-Madison SLIS Continuing Education Services at cesinfo@slis.wisc.edu or call 608.263.2942.
May 19 – WVLS Latino Grant workshop – Cedar Creek Mall – more information under "Continuing Education" in this issue of the Lamplighter.
May 25 – "Being Part of the Team" – Support Staff Conference – Neville Public Museum, Green Bay.
June 3 – WVLS V-Cat Council meeting – Rib Lake Public Library – 9:30 a.m.
June 10 – WVLS Executive Committee meeting – Marathon County Public Library - 9:30 a.m.
July 15 – WVLS Board of Trustees meeting – Marathon County Public Library – 9:30 a.m.
"Of the Seven
Deadly Sins, anger is possibly the most fun.
To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances
long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter
confrontations still to come, to savor to the last toothsome
morsel both the pain you are given and the pain you
are giving back – in many ways is a feast fit for a king.
The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself.
The skeleton at the feast is you."
--Frederick Buechner
(Refdesk Thought of the Day, 3/20/04)
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
is a monthly newsletter of the Wisconsin
Valley Library Service.
300 N. First
Street / Wausau, WI 54403
Contributions are welcome!
Back issues are available at http://wvls.lib.wi.us/Newsletter/newsindex.htm
(Note: Web links in past issues are not checked for currency and may no
longer work.)
| EDITOR: Marla Sepnafski Phone: 715/261-7252 FAX: 715/261-7259 |
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.
When the most recent issue becomes available, readers are alerted by a notice
posted to WISPUBLIB, or sent an email.
To subscribe to WISPUBLIB, send an email message to wispublib@badger.state.wi.us
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