Monday Morning Eye-Opener 11/23/09

Happy Thanksgiving! Today in EYE-OPENER:

1) Coming Soon: Trustee Trouble DVDs

2) Next Library 101

3) Next Career Reading Roundtable

4) Meetings / Events This Week

1) Coming Soon: Trustee Trouble DVDs

Early next month, every library board in Iowa will receive an early Christmas present that will last throughout the new year—a DVD training package containing 12 video clips called “Trustee Troubles.” The Library Service Areas, thanks to a generous grant from the Iowa Library Trustees Association, have arranged for each library in the state to receive this package to use in local board meetings.

The content of “Trustee Troubles” was created and produced by the Wyoming State Library. Additional footage, created by Iowa LSA staff, introduces each topic and includes information relevant to library boards in Iowa.

In these videos, you’ll meet “Trustee Dan,” a newly appointed board member still learning all that’s involved in public library trusteeship. These are lighthearted clips, most run about 10 minutes, and are intended to provide a context for discussing library board responsibilities.

We encourage your board to watch and discuss one video segment each month at regularly scheduled board meetings. To help prompt your discussion, questions follow at the end of each segment. And plenty of reminders will come your way, too! Every month, libraries will receive an electronic newsletter that will highlight the board topic of the month, along with extra resources and background reading.

So look to your mailbox in the next few weeks for your library’s “Trustee Troubles” package. And look to your inbox for the accompanying newsletter. Again, special thanks to the Iowa Library Trustees Association for so generously supporting this project!

2) Next Library 101

The next LIBRARY101 is coming up quick: it’s December 10, online in NWILS new Adobe Classroom. The time is 9:00AM—12:00PM and the intent of this class is an orientation for newly hired directors and staff; new trustees are most welcome, too.

Hear about the services of the LSAs, the State Library, and ILA. Learn about standards for public libraries and many other statewide programs. Lots of Q&A time—and a great chance to come on into NWILS new online classroom.

You don’t have to be new to appreciate LIBRARY101, because it also serves as a good refresher. Pre-registration is required, though, and you’ll find that in the c.e. catalog.

3) Next Career Reading Roundtable

If you’ve been part of Career Reading Roundtables, you’ve probably already begun the next title up for discussion: Grown Up Digital: How the Net Generation is Changing Your World by Don Tapscott. The roundtable is December 14, online in Northwest LSA’s Adobe Classroom, from 9:00AM—11:00AM. Sara Willeford with Ankeny Public Library is leading the discussion this time. What’s meant by “grown up digital?” Here’s a glimpse…

“…Chances are you know someone between the ages of 11 and 30. You’ve seen them doing 5 things at once: texting friends, downloading music, uploading videos, watching movies on a 2” screen, and chatting on Facebook. They’re the first generation to have literally grown up digital—and they’re part of a global cultural phenomenon that’s here to stay…”

“…Best-selling author Don Tapscott has surveyed more than 11,000 young people. Instead of a bunch of spoiled “screenagers” with short attention spans and zero social skills, he’s discovered a remarkably bright community that has developed revolutionary new ways of thinking, interacting, working, and socializing. Grown Up Digital reveals how the Net Generation processes information, suggests 7 ways to attract young talent in the workforce, and offers 7 guidelines for educators to tap the Net Gen’s potential…”

Career Reading Roundtable is co-presented 6 times a year by Central and Northwest LSA. It’s a book discussion group with a twist: we deliberately choose books outside the realm of library literature, discussing how customer service ideas, HR theories, and business practices of other occupations can apply to library management.

Join us for Grown Up Digital on December 14, 9:00AM—11:00AM, online in Northwest LSA’s Adobe Classroom—and don’t forget to register first in the c.e. catalog!

4) Meetings / Events This Week

Northwest LSA Board meets tomorrow, November 24, this time at Holstein Public Library. The meeting begins at 1:00PM and is open to the public; area library staff are welcome to attend. The agenda is posted here: http://www.nwils.lib.ia.us/Archive/2009/nov09/nwbrdmt

And because this is Thanksgiving week, NWILS office will be closed on Thanksgiving Thursday and Friday. Regular office hours resume on Monday November 30. Hope you all enjoy a fulfilling Turkey Day…safe travels!