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September
2005 |
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Here come the flowers,
Here come the grasses
Here comes September
We hail her as she passes.
This is an old New England processional song and autumnal chant. September’s beauty comes as the earth, having fulfilled its utilitarian functions and carried out its good cooperation with the husbandry of men, suddenly gives itself completely over to one last wanton burst of bloom that has no higher purpose than to delight the eye and sky.
(from In Praise of Seasons by Alan H. Olmstead, NY, Harper & Row, © 1977)ABCS…’READIN, ‘RITIN, AND ‘RITHMETIC…BASICS
“I try hard not to let it happen, but my heart always sinks at the thought
of yet another discussion on the future of the information profession. We can
be a desperately introspective bunch at the best of times, and a topic like this
is guaranteed to bring out the doom and gloom merchants, all anxious to convince
themselves that we’re unappreciated, that our status is declining and no one
wants us any more. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth – as long as
we don’t let it happen…
’Back to basics’ may be a hackneyed phrase with overtones designed to raise a cynical smile, but I believe that it does describe exactly what we in this profession need to do…amid all the jargon, we shouldn’t forget to keep asking ourselves: what are we here for? How can we do it best? Simple questions that invite a simple answer: we help people find out what they need to know to lead better lives.
You can dismiss this as a truism if you like, but it’s actually at the heart of our role…Stripped to its essentials, this simple answer means: ‘How can we help?’ Not in a passive, wait-and-see way, but proactively, anticipating our users’ needs and making the goals of the communities we serve our goals as well. It really doesn’t matter what that community is…
We must also not be afraid of empowerment – empowerment of end-users, at home and in the workplace, and empowerment of people within the information and library profession…including paraprofessionals – those skilled and experienced people who keep…services running smoothly, day in, day out. For the record, I think this is entirely right; the apartheid that we used to experience, separating the ‘qualified librarian’ and the rest was in a real sense pathetic. It hasn’t reflected the reality of the situation on the ground for years…
Cooperation is key…We’ve always been pretty good at cooperating in this profession…Always important, our propensity to cooperate is now key…Despite all the challenges this profession faces, I’m convinced that it will thrive and grow. As information professionals, we hold the key to so much that’s globally important today. But we must work at it…”
(from an article The Future of the Information Profession – No Time for Introspection by Debby Shorley, Librarian at the University of Sussex (England)…as seen in FreePint 8.10.05)And, on a totally different (but interesting none-the-less) topic –
NEW FEE FOR ITEMS NOT PICKED UP
A new fee will be instituted this summer for library materials that have
been reserved and not picked up by the customers who requested them at the Mead
Public Library in Sheboygan. Each month the library handles 400-500 items that
are requested by customers and never picked up. Many hours are spent
retrieving, processing, and re-shelving requested items which are often sent
from other libraries. These items are out of circulation and unavailable to
other customers for 10-14 days. That’s why the library will automatically add a
$ .50 charge to an account if a hold has not been picked up by its expiration
date. They say that they regret the need to implement this charge but the
library must make the best use of its diminishing resources.
-- Heather Eldred
SUBSCRIBE TO
TEACHINGBOOKS.NET TODAY!
Now that students and teachers are going
back to school, it’s a good time to remind everyone about the benefits of
TeachingBooks.net. All residents of Wisconsin have access to this excellent
resource, especially designed for teachers, librarians, and families. Materials
include: multimedia author programs, book discussion guides, book readings,
awards, and thematic booklists.
TeachingBooks.net requires a user to register and sign in. To do so:
If you have any questions about
TeachingBooks.net email
info@teachingbooks.net or call (608)257-2919.
(adapted from NewsFlashes, newsletter of the Indianhead
Federated Library System; 8/24/05)
JOIN A
WVLS LISTSERV!
In August 2004, WVLS created the following five listservs for the WVLS area as a
way to improve communication channels between WVLS and those served by WVLS:
v-cat [
http://lavos.wiscnet.net/mailman/listinfo/v-cat ]
This list is for V-Cat Council members and anyone else interested in V-Cat
related issues.
wvlspldirs [
http://lavos.wiscnet.net/mailman/listinfo/wvlspldirs ]
This list is for public library directors in the WVLS area and anyone else who
may be interested.
wvlspltrust [
http://lavos.wiscnet.net/mailman/listinfo/wvlspltrust ]
This list is for public library trustees in the WVLS area and anyone else who
may be interested.
wvlsnonpub [
http://lavos.wiscnet.net/mailman/listinfo/wvlsnonpub ]
This list is for nonpublic library staff representing school, academic,
technical, and special libraries in the WVLS area and anyone else who may be
interested.
wvlsmax [
http://lavos.wiscnet.net/mailman/listinfo/wvlsmax ]
This is the main WVLS email list and it is open to any library staff, trustees,
etc., who is interested in library services in the WVLS area. Anyone who is a
member of any one of the other four WVLS listservs will automatically be a
member of this list.
The above information may also be found on the WVLS web site at http://wvls.lib.wi.us/Directories/email_listserv.html Instructions for subscribing to each list are provided once you click on the link for the listserv. Keep in mind that to post messages to a list, a person must first be a member of the list. If you have questions about these WVLS listservs, or if you or your county library board is interested in having a listserv created for your specific county, please contact Linda Orcutt at 715/261-7253, or lorcutt@wvls.lib.wi.us
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Serving
Seniors with Special Needs |
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9-9:30 a.m. Coffee and Conversation
9:30-11 a.m. READER'S ADVISORY: A PASSION FOR
ROMANCE 11:15-11:45 a.m. READER'S ADVISORY: CHRISTIAN
& INSPIRATIONAL LIT. 11:45-12:15 p.m. SHARING SESSION: When libraries partner with outside agencies, everyone benefits. From Parish Nurses to the Lions Club to the local Senior Center, WVLS libraries are collaborating with community agencies to better serve seniors with special needs. Workshop participants will share their experiences with the 2005 LSTA grant projects. 12:15-1:30 p.m. Lunch on your own 1:30-3:15 p.m. "IS THAT GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME?" Nurse/Educator Jan Beringer of Beringer Consulting will present an interactive session on the aging of the senses. Participants will experience first-hand simulations of vision and hearing loss, and learn techniques for better serving customers with disabilities. *This free workshop
is presented with support from a 2005 LSTA grant and is open to all. Person(s) attending ________________________________________________________ Library __________________________________________________________________
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Second
Annual
NORTHWOODS
CONFERENCE
for
Library Friends, Supporters &
Volunteers
Due to the huge success of the first Northwoods Conference, the Friends of the Marathon County Public Library and the Wisconsin Valley Library Service (WVLS) have planned another one! Attending this conference will be a great opportunity for “friends” to share ideas and network with colleagues, to get insights from library leaders in Wisconsin, and to gather lots of information and resources to jump start local library support efforts.
Speakers and discussion leaders for this conference include:
|
Audrey
ASCHER Friends of Marathon County Public Library |
Richard
KRUMWIEDE Outagamie Waupaca Library System |
| James
BACKUS Friends of Marathon County Public Library |
Mark
MERRIFIELD Nicolet Federated Library System |
| Mary
BETHKE Marathon County Public Library |
Marla
SEPNAFSKI Wisconsin Valley Library Service |
| Jan
CLOUSE Friends of Marshfield Public Library |
Sharon
VIRNIG Friends of Medford Public Library |
| Mary
COATES Wipfli, LLC (Accounting Firm) |
Joanne
WOLF Friends of Medford Public Library |
| Heather
ELDRED Wisconsin Valley Library Service |
THE
COST OF THE CONFERENCE IS $12.00
This fee
includes coffee and snacks throughout the session as well as a lunch at mid-day.
Please join us and share your ideas with others who are eager to do the best job possible in supporting their local library and its customers.
Please bring sample publicity pieces for the “show & tell” tables.
If you have questions or comments about this workshop, or need special accommodations to attend this conference, please contact Audrey Ascher at 715/845-3988.
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To register for the NORTHWOODS CONFERENCE for Library Friends, Supporters & Volunteers, mail completed registration and a check for $12.00 (made out to Wisconsin Valley Library Service) to:
Marla Sepnafski; Wisconsin Valley Library Service; 300 N. First Street; Wausau, WI 54403
Names ______________________________________
Library _______________________________
Telephone No. _______________ Email ________________________
Amount Enclosed _______
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: October 10, 2005
(Registrants will be sent a map and a listing of hotels and restaurants in the Medford area upon receipt of registration.)
NEED A DATABASE REFRESHER
COURSE?
To check out the latest from Ebsco, visit http://support.epnet.com/CustSupport/Customer/Search.aspx and look for links to their tutorials and support materials at the top of the page. At the Proquest site, you may sign up for free, one-hour tutorials on Proquest Newspapers or Ancestry Library, or find patron-training materials at their Training Resource Center, at http://training.proquest.com/trc/training/
Links to these two handy sites are provided on the WVLS Continuing Education
page at
http://wvls.lib.wi.us/Workshops/workshop.html
KIDS NEED TO KNOW THEIR
NEIGHBORS
NEIGHBORHOOD BOUNDARIES – Asset #13
Kids have this asset when neighbors take responsibility for monitoring young
people’s behavior.
How can you make your neighborhood a better place? Start by learning who your neighbors are. Contact your community’s police department for information about starting a Neighborhood Watch program. Host a neighborhood block party to get to know your neighbors, especially youth. Keep an eye on neighborhood kids and ask trustworthy neighbors to be on the watch for all children and youth who live nearby. Compliment young people when you catch them doing something right, and intervene respectfully when you notice inappropriate behaviors. Take the time to connect with young people and teach them that their actions make a difference for everyone.
MINDSET LIST FOR THE CLASS
OF 2009
On the average, students of the class of 2009 were born in 1987 and are 18 years old. From their perspective, Starbucks, souped-up car stereos and Bill Gates have always been a part of their lives, and Aretha Franklin, Kermit the Frog and Jimmy Carter have become old-timers. They have grown up in a country where the main business has become business, and where terrorism, from obscure beginnings, has built up slowly but surely to become the threat it is today. Following are other observations from the Beloit College Mindset List for the Class of 2009 (complete Beloit College mindset lists for classes 2002-2009 are available at http://www.beloit.edu/~pubaff/mindset/):
New & Improved -
DELUXE LIBRARIAN ACTION
FIGURE AVAILABLE!
Archie McPhee, who produces the Nancy Pearl Librarian Action Figure
says that’s not only one of their best selling items, it is also, surprisingly,
one of their most controversial. After complaints that the figure presented a
stereotype of the librarian as dowdy and stern, they created a new DELUXE
version to address some of the concerns. Her outfit is now a rich burgundy color
and she comes with a diverse selection of books and a reference computer. She
does, however, still shush. You can see her at
http://www.mcphee.com/amusements/current/11548.html
Free Online Database –
AUTHORS @ YOUR LIBRARY
The Association of American Publishers (AAP) partnered with
the American Library Association, Friends of Libraries U.S.A. (FOLUSA), and
Library Journal to produce Authors @ Your Library, a free online database that
matches library programming opportunities with publishers’ author schedules.
Once library staff and publishers enter relevant information into the database,
library event planners can search for authors by name, title, geographic
location, tour schedules, and other items, making it easier to schedule author
events. Also, publishers can identify opportunities for author events at
libraries in different regions of the country. Check out Authors @ Your Library
at www.AuthorsAtYourLibrary.org
(Library Journal; August 2005)
CELEBRATE CENTENNIAL OF E=mc2
2005 marks the centennial of the world’s most famous equation
E=mc2. Created by Albert Einstein, E=mc2 means “energy equals mass times the
speed of light squared.” In celebration, NOVA is sponsoring a two-hour special
about the people behind the equation. The program airs on PBS October 11, 2005
from 8-10pm (check local listings as dates and times may
vary).
In addition NOVA, with assistance from the American Library Association, is offering a library guide, “Einstein’s Big Idea,” to all public libraries. The 32-page library guide includes ready-to-use display and programming resources for libraries large and small – all designed to simplify library efforts and make E=mc2 programming accessible and enjoyable.
The library guide was distributed in August to public libraries nationwide. Start planning now by visiting NOVA Online (http://www.pbs.org/nova/einstein) where you'll find an online version of the guide as well as a preview clip of the program.
The results are in!
Trends influencing the popularity of the CD format include: the increasing number of new cars including factory-installed CD players rather than cassette players; the decreasing number of cassette boom boxes or portable players available to consumers; the music industry’s shift from the cassette format to the CD format; book stores providing less and less shelf space to cassettes; audio publishers releasing backlist titles on CD, and providing competitive pricing for the CD format; and, CD players becoming more sophisticated ( i.e., they now resume play at the spot where they were turned off).
(from “The Future of Formats” by Andrew Adam Newman; AudioFile Magazine; September/October 2005)… HOWEVER DOWNLOADABLE AUDIOS ARE ON THE RISE!
The North American market for digital audiobooks is heating up! Following
are a few characteristics of the industry’s four major players
netLibrary ( http://www.oclc.org/audiobooks/default.htm )
OverDrive ( http://www.overdrive.com )
Audible.com ( http://www.audible.com )
TumbleBooks.com ( http://www.tumblebooks.com )
NEED $$$ TO ATTEND WLA
CONFERENCE?
WEB SITES OF INTEREST (tourist traps on the information superhighway!)
AMERICAN CONTRACT BRIDGE LEAGUE
http://www.acbl.org
The homepage of the world’s largest bridge organization offers free lesson
software; tips on how to play, find a club, and play online; and charts, rules
and regulations. Four online bridge clubs are recommended under the “play” tab.
GAMES FOR THE BRAIN
http://www.gamesforthebrain.com/
Addictive! Play never-ending quiz and memory games to train your thinking
skills. Available in several languages including English, German and Spanish.
HOMESCHOOLING RESOURCES
http://www.waterborolibrary.org/homeschool/
This categorized, annotated directory has links to general websites for home
schoolers, plus specialized sites for Christian and Islamic home schooling,
general reference and subject specific sites, "Character Education" resources,
"Family-Safe Search Engines and Start-Up Pages," links to supply vendors,
college resources, and some just-for-fun sites. From the Waterboro, Maine,
Public Library.
MID-CONTINENT PUBLIC LIBRARY JUVENILE SERIES & SEQUELS
http://www.mcpl.lib.mo.us/readers/series/juv/
The Mid-Continent Public Library (Independence, Missouri) has a nice on-line
Reader’s Advisory page that provides a comprehensive Juvenile Series and Sequels
list. This resource contains over 19,000 titles classified into three
categories: young adult, juvenile, and juvenile easy. Information may be viewed
by series title, series subject, book title or book author. I think you will
find this a very helpful site as you work with children. – Kathleen Hofschield,
Mead Public Library, Sheboygan
PLAYBILL http://www.playbill.com
With its distinctive black-and-yellow cover, theater-goers from the Old Vic to
San Diego's Old Globe know Playbill well. For those who find themselves away
from the theater for a time, this website will prove to be a most efficacious
way to catch up with all the latest theater news. Visitors to the site can
peruse the latest theater news offered on the homepage, and peruse features such
as profiles of the Great White Way's most notable chanteuses. Of course, there
is also the Brief Encounter feature, which offers interviews with some of
theater's talents, including Dan Fogler and director Mark Lamos. For those
seeking employment in the theatrical arts and related positions, there is also a
job listings area. Additionally, the site contains Broadway grosses and material
on those plays and musicals scheduled to make the leap to the silver screen in
the near (and not-so-near) future.
September
September 11 – National Grandparents Day www.grandparents-day.com
September 15–October 15 - HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. For information and programming ideas, visit http://latino.sscnet.ucla.edu/ and http://www.gale.com/free_resources/chh/index.htm and http://www.somosprimos.com and http://www.getcaughtreading.org/pressreleases/ajaleyendo.htm
September 17 – WVLS Board of Trustees meeting – Marathon County Public Library – 9:30 a.m.
September 21 – Serving Seniors with Special Needs – a WVLS workshop – Marathon County Public Library – 9:00-3:15 – details above.
September 21-25 Wisconsin Library Association Foundation-sponsored tour of New York City, coordinated by Spotlight Theatre Tours, with tour host Rebecca Roepke – for details, visit http://www.wla.lib.wi.us/wlaf/NYCtour.htm
September 22-23 – Northwest Children’s Book Conference – Schwan’s Retreat and Conference Center – Trego, WI. For more information about this 2-day conference, visit http://www.nwls.lib.wi.us/ncbc
September 24 – October 1 – 2005 BANNED BOOKS WEEK: It’s Your Freedom We’re Talking About - more information on the 24th BBW, including a place to order a BBW kit and images of this campaign’s posters, t-shirts, and bookmark, may be found at http://www.ala.org/bbooks
October
October 6 – V-Cat Council meeting – Minocqua Public Library – 9:30 a.m.
October 15 – 2nd Annual Northwoods Conference for Friends, Supporters & Volunteers – sponsored by the Friends of Marathon County Public Library and WVLS – Skateway, Medford, WI.
October 16-22 – TEEN READ WEEK – theme: “Get Real! @ your library” – the focus is on nonfiction and realistic fiction – for more information, visit the Young Adult Library Services Association new Teen Read Week web site at http://www.ala.org/teenread Early-bird registrations on the site get free books!
October 22 – WVLS Executive Committee meeting – Marathon County Public Library – 9:30 a.m.
October 24-26 – Internet Librarian 2005 Conference – Monterey Conference Center; Monterey, California – for details, visit http://www.infotoday.com/il2005/
October 25-28 – WLA Annual Conference - Radisson Hotel, La Crosse, WI – more information may be found at http://www.wla.lib.wi.us/conferences/2005/index.htm
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“More than a building that houses books and data, the library represents a window to a larger world, the place where we’ve always come to discover big ideas and profound concepts that help move the American story forward and the human story forward. That’s the reason why, since ancient antiquity, whenever those who seek power would want to control the human spirit, they have gone after libraries and books.” - Barack Obama, Democratic U.S. senator from Illinois, during his speech at the Opening General Session of the 2005 ALA Conference, which drew an enormous crowd and garnered a standing ovation. (American Libraries; August 2005)
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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
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
In the body of the message (subject line is ignored) type: subscribe WISPUBLIB.
Then send your email. To have The Lamplighter emailed to you without subscribing
to WISPUBLIB, contact Barbara Freimund at 715/261-7252, or email freimund@wvls.lib.wi.us
