Good Morning And Happy Easter! In today’s EYE-OPENER ……
1) Next Library101 April 13
2) Iowa Small Library Association Spring Meeting
3) April is National Poetry Month
4) Virtual Roundtables Worked Great
5) Meetings / Events This Week
1) Next Library101 April 13
Newly hired library directors are invited to attend the next Library101 on April 13. It’s an orientation for new directors, staff, or trustees—all are welcome. This program introduces services from the LSAs and the State Library, highlights various standards for public libraries, and explains statewide programs from Open Access to EBSCO. It’s a nice way to get acquainted and feel more connected—the more the merrier!
Library 101 has moved online into Northwest LSA Adobe Classroom. The time is 9:00AM—12:00PM; you’ll find registration in the c.e. catalog.
2) Iowa Small Library Association Spring Meeting
Make plans to attend the 2010 spring meeting of the Iowa Small Libraries Association on Friday April 23. The meeting will be held in 7 locations around the state, all sites with ICN rooms. Northwest sites are Sac City and Hawarden Public Libraries; other sites are the public libraries in Eldora, Creston, Solon, Fayette, along with the State Library.
The morning agenda (10:00AM-12:00PM) is the business meeting; the afternoon agenda (1:00—3:00PM) is a workshop on customer service presented by Kim Kietzman with Altoona Public Library. Lunch from 12:00—1:00 is on your own.
The registration fee varies, depending on your membership status with ILA/ISLA—if you’re a member of both, it’s free! For fees, registration, and full details, refer to last week’s email announcements on IOWALIB. Note: for this program, registration IS NOT done through the c.e. catalog, although you can access the registration flyer that way. We have it here too, so you’re welcome to call if questions.
3) April is National Poetry Month
Last week, you read about Akron Library’s second annual Rhyme Time on the Prairie, a weekend poetry event in Akron connected with National Poetry Month. Libraries can promote all manner of poetry-related programming and book displays in April.
From the official website Poets.Org “…Inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, National Poetry Month is now held every April, when publishers, booksellers, literary organizations, libraries, schools, and poets around the country come together to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture. Thousands of businesses and non-profit organizations participate through readings, festivals, book displays, workshops, and other events…”
From the website, you’ll find low-cost ideas for poetry appreciation, posters and logos, and booklists for collection development. There’s also a page called “30 Ways to Celebrate NPM” with a month’s worth of ideas for inside or outside the library—including writing poems in sidewalk chalk! And you know the commercial with the tag line “there’s an app for that?” Well, Poets.Org website has a poetry app for your i-phone, with daily poems presented as both fixed and animated text. To read more, visit Poets.Org
4) Virtual Roundtables Worked Great
Last Wednesday, Northwest LSA tried a new venture—hosting Virtual Roundtables in NWILS Adobe Online Classroom. There were 3 discussions going on simultaneously, using Adobe’s breakout room feature. Dress rehearsals paid off, because by working the bugs out ahead of time, this approach worked well and the audience evaluations were very positive.
If last week didn’t work into your schedule, Virtual Roundtables repeat on April 21—you’ll find registration in the c.e. catalog. And if you did attend last week, come back again on April 21 and join a different discussion group!
The time is 9:30AM—11:30AM. Special thanks to three people on NWILS Special Teams who lead the conversations: Nathan Clark leading the directors roundtable, Kelly Fischbach leading the automation discussion, and Becky Bilby leading the children’s roundtable!
5) Meetings / Events This Week
Northwest LSA Board meets tomorrow, Tuesday March 30, this time at Cherokee Public Library. The meetings starts at 1:00PM; area libraries are welcome to attend. The agenda is posted on NWILS website.
Next Monday April 5 is a staff furlough day, meaning NWILS office will be closed that day. That also means no EYE-OPENER on April 5...EYE-OPENER will be back on April 12. For this week, wishing everyone a very Happy Easter!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Northwest LSA Offers Virtual Roundtables
Northwest LSA is sponsoring online roundtables this month and next. 3 interest groups can gather same day, same time, same place in Northwest’s Adobe Pro Classroom: directors, children’s librarians, and automation users. Depending on your interest, we’ll flip you into various breakout rooms.
Northwest Special Teams members will facilitate the discussions. Nathan Clark will lead the director’s roundtable with news from the Iowa Small Library Association and solicit PR ideas for National Library Week. Becky Bilby will lead the children’s services roundtable, sharing plans for Summer Reading Programs. And Kelly Fischbach will lead the automation roundtable with a Q&A about automation products and software features.
Registration is open in the c.e. catalog. Please register in advance so we’ll know how many to plan for. Catch the roundtables on March 24, with a repeat session on April 21: 9:30—11:30AM each time. Join us for virtual roundtables—another new adventure from Northwest LSA!
Northwest Special Teams members will facilitate the discussions. Nathan Clark will lead the director’s roundtable with news from the Iowa Small Library Association and solicit PR ideas for National Library Week. Becky Bilby will lead the children’s services roundtable, sharing plans for Summer Reading Programs. And Kelly Fischbach will lead the automation roundtable with a Q&A about automation products and software features.
Registration is open in the c.e. catalog. Please register in advance so we’ll know how many to plan for. Catch the roundtables on March 24, with a repeat session on April 21: 9:30—11:30AM each time. Join us for virtual roundtables—another new adventure from Northwest LSA!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Monday Morning Eye-Opener 3/15/2010
Good Morning! Today in EYE-OPENER:
1) National Library Week April 11-17
2) National Library Workers Day
3) Emmetsburg and P.A. County Reap More Grants
4) Meetings / Events This Week
1) National Library Week April 11-17: Easter is 3 weeks away—and we despaired that spring would never come! Hopping right behind the Easter Bunny comes National Library Week April 11-17. This year’s theme is Communities Thrive @ Your Library and this year’s spokesperson is author Neil Gaiman. Since 1958, National Library Week has been sponsored by the American Library Association, alongside many educational and corporate partners.
To jumpstart plans, you can find a wonderful array of promotional materials and programming ideas at the NLW website. PSAs and press releases too, plus links to many resources that support the “Community” theme. Just one example: ProgrammingLibrarian.org is an online resource center developed by the ALA Public Programs Office to assist libraries in developing cultural and community programs. The site includes authoritative resources for planning, implementing and evaluating community programs
And for all shutterbugs out there, “Library Snapshot Day” celebrates all types of libraries through photos. The Iowa Library Association is a partner here, encouraging Iowa libraries to take pictures of people using your library on any given day during NLW. Share your 3 favorites with ILA’s Flickr group—and hey, while you’re at it, share your photos with Northwest LSA too! We’re always in the market for fresh photos of Northwest libraries in action. We’ll add them to our website, blog, and our Flickr group, too. There’s more instruction about Library Snapshot Day at ILA’s website.
2) National Library Workers Day: Here’s a hidden gem—but what a great addition to National Library Week. It’s Tuesday April 13—National Library Workers Day. The day’s theme is “Libraries Work Because We Do.” Staff really is the library’s most valuable resource, so what better day for a staff appreciation party Find posters, t-shirts, buttons, and more at the NLWStore. Back at National Library Workers Day website, there are countless stories telling how library boards, Friends Groups, and city personnel have thanked their library staff with a day-long celebration. Be sure to do something special for your staff on Tuesday April 13!
3) Emmetsburg and P.A. County Reap More Grants: Emmetsburg and Palo Alto County boasts from fierce grant writers. Nathan Clark, director at Emmetsburg and Ruthven Libraries, just shared an impressive list of grants awarded to the libraries by the Palo Alto Gaming Development Corporation. This is just for instance:
• At E’Burg and Ruthven: each library receives a 52” flat panel TVs wall-mounted to loop slideshows publicizing library programs, community events, new and forthcoming books
• At Mallard: digitized Mallard newspapers
• At Emmetsburg: a one year subscription to Tumblebooks, online e-books for the kids collection
• At Emmetsburg: $20,000.00 for new library furnishings and amenities—a total library makeover
• At all 5 Palo Alto County libraries: $500.00 each to support gaming programs; most libraries will use the funds to purchase a Nintendo Wii, software, and accessories.
At last year’s C.E. JAMBOREE, Nathan presented a session on the county’s grant writing success. This year at JAMBORE, we’ll hopefully hear from the libraries using flat panel TVs for promotion; Milford and Onawa are also using in-house TVs to promote library events. Thanks to Nathan and the Palo Alto County libraries for sharing this story!
4) Meetings / Events This Week
Wishing everyone a festively green St. Patrick’s Day on Wednesday March 17th .
Library Technology Conference 2010, Wednesday March 17th in St. Paul, MN. This two day conference provides a mix of sessions highlighting many of the technologies affecting how users interact with libraries and how libraries are using technology to create new and better ways to manage resources. For more information go to http://digital commons.macalester.edu
1) National Library Week April 11-17
2) National Library Workers Day
3) Emmetsburg and P.A. County Reap More Grants
4) Meetings / Events This Week
1) National Library Week April 11-17: Easter is 3 weeks away—and we despaired that spring would never come! Hopping right behind the Easter Bunny comes National Library Week April 11-17. This year’s theme is Communities Thrive @ Your Library and this year’s spokesperson is author Neil Gaiman. Since 1958, National Library Week has been sponsored by the American Library Association, alongside many educational and corporate partners.
To jumpstart plans, you can find a wonderful array of promotional materials and programming ideas at the NLW website. PSAs and press releases too, plus links to many resources that support the “Community” theme. Just one example: ProgrammingLibrarian.org is an online resource center developed by the ALA Public Programs Office to assist libraries in developing cultural and community programs. The site includes authoritative resources for planning, implementing and evaluating community programs
And for all shutterbugs out there, “Library Snapshot Day” celebrates all types of libraries through photos. The Iowa Library Association is a partner here, encouraging Iowa libraries to take pictures of people using your library on any given day during NLW. Share your 3 favorites with ILA’s Flickr group—and hey, while you’re at it, share your photos with Northwest LSA too! We’re always in the market for fresh photos of Northwest libraries in action. We’ll add them to our website, blog, and our Flickr group, too. There’s more instruction about Library Snapshot Day at ILA’s website.
2) National Library Workers Day: Here’s a hidden gem—but what a great addition to National Library Week. It’s Tuesday April 13—National Library Workers Day. The day’s theme is “Libraries Work Because We Do.” Staff really is the library’s most valuable resource, so what better day for a staff appreciation party Find posters, t-shirts, buttons, and more at the NLWStore. Back at National Library Workers Day website, there are countless stories telling how library boards, Friends Groups, and city personnel have thanked their library staff with a day-long celebration. Be sure to do something special for your staff on Tuesday April 13!
3) Emmetsburg and P.A. County Reap More Grants: Emmetsburg and Palo Alto County boasts from fierce grant writers. Nathan Clark, director at Emmetsburg and Ruthven Libraries, just shared an impressive list of grants awarded to the libraries by the Palo Alto Gaming Development Corporation. This is just for instance:
• At E’Burg and Ruthven: each library receives a 52” flat panel TVs wall-mounted to loop slideshows publicizing library programs, community events, new and forthcoming books
• At Mallard: digitized Mallard newspapers
• At Emmetsburg: a one year subscription to Tumblebooks, online e-books for the kids collection
• At Emmetsburg: $20,000.00 for new library furnishings and amenities—a total library makeover
• At all 5 Palo Alto County libraries: $500.00 each to support gaming programs; most libraries will use the funds to purchase a Nintendo Wii, software, and accessories.
At last year’s C.E. JAMBOREE, Nathan presented a session on the county’s grant writing success. This year at JAMBORE, we’ll hopefully hear from the libraries using flat panel TVs for promotion; Milford and Onawa are also using in-house TVs to promote library events. Thanks to Nathan and the Palo Alto County libraries for sharing this story!
4) Meetings / Events This Week
Wishing everyone a festively green St. Patrick’s Day on Wednesday March 17th .
Library Technology Conference 2010, Wednesday March 17th in St. Paul, MN. This two day conference provides a mix of sessions highlighting many of the technologies affecting how users interact with libraries and how libraries are using technology to create new and better ways to manage resources. For more information go to http://digital commons.macalester.edu
Monday, March 08, 2010
Monday Morning Eye-Opener 3/8/2010
Good morning and Happy Teen Tech Week! Check out the 2010 Teen Tech Week website, where the theme is "Learn, Create, Share @ Your Library." Loads of ideas for involving teens in techie library programming - learn how your library can take part!
1) Northwest LSA Offers Virtual Roundtables
2) Garnavillo Library Wins TechSoup Help
3) Sibley Library Throws Dr. Seuss Party
4) Meetings / Events This Week
******************************
1) Northwest LSA Offers Virtual Roundtables
Northwest LSA is sponsoring online roundtables this month and next. 3 interest groups can gather same day, same time, same place. In Northwest's Adobe Pro Classroom: directors, children's librarians, and automation users. Depending on your interest, we'll flip you into various breakout rooms.
Northwest Special Teams members will facilitate the discussions. Nathan Clark will lead the director's roundtable with news from the Iowa Small Library Association and solicit PR ideas for National Library Week. Becky Bilby will lead the children's services roundtable, sharing plans for Summer Reading Programs. And Kelly Fischbach will lead the automation roundtable with a Q&A about automation products and software features.
Registration is open in the c.e. catalog. Please register in advance so we'll know how many to plan for. Catch the roundtables on March 24, with a repeat session on April 21: 9:30 - 11:30am each time. Join us for virtual roundtables - another new adventure from Northwest LSA!
2) Garnavillo Library Wins TechSoup Help
Each month, TechSoup selects a public library or nonprofit group to win an hour with one of their tech consultants. The topic is left up to the winner and the hour is spent on the phone answering questions. And how about this: the March winner was Garnavillo Public Library in northeast Iowa!
Library director Mary Fran Nikolai applied and was so pleased to win. In a population of 754, Garnavillo Library has 5 public computers and 2 staff computers. From TechSoup's news release "...being able to afford tech support is one of their top technology challenges, so this was a great opportunity to get some answers. Mary Fran asked very specific questions about the library's network, bandwidth issues, scheduling updates, and a scanner that wasn't working properly. Out intrepid tech analyst answered all of her questions, offering solutions and new ideas to try..."
If you have tech challenges - and who doesn't, right? - you too can enter for a chance to win an hour of TechTime with TechSoup. Visit their website for the application form. And congrats to Mary Fran at Garnavillo!
3) Sibley Library Throws Dr. Seuss Party
March sets up some fun kid programming by celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday. Theodore Geisel's birthday is March 2, but schools and libraries can use ready-made Seussical programs all month long. Visit these websites for ideas:
*Seussville @ http://www.seussville.com/ This is Random House Publishing site for kids
*National Education Association @http://www.nea.org sponsor of Read Across America
*Target @http://www.target.comfor Seuss books, DVDs, games, props, etc
*Kohls @http://www.kohls.com for the same
And check out all the "fun that was funny" at Sibley Public Library last week. Thanks for sending your photo story Sibley! http://www.sibley.lib.ia.us
4) Meetings / Events This Week
Tuesday, March 9, catch the last installment of The Board's Role in Human Resources. The 5-part online series concludes tomorrow night with the board's role in employee and workplace relations.
How do boards fit into this equation? Because their decisions regarding the building, safety issues, and staff appreciation affect employees at all levels. With the premise that board decisions lead to healthy workplace morale, this program shares some morale boosting tips, along with some fun websites. This is the last installment so join the conversation!
Registration is open in the c.e. catalog. We urge you to register there, because doing so ensures that you receive follow-up emails confirming date, time, and the classroom link. And oh yeah - it's nice to know how many to expect - so there is a method to the madness. Setting up an account in the c.e. catalog is easy - ask your director or your LSA office if questions.
1) Northwest LSA Offers Virtual Roundtables
2) Garnavillo Library Wins TechSoup Help
3) Sibley Library Throws Dr. Seuss Party
4) Meetings / Events This Week
******************************
1) Northwest LSA Offers Virtual Roundtables
Northwest LSA is sponsoring online roundtables this month and next. 3 interest groups can gather same day, same time, same place. In Northwest's Adobe Pro Classroom: directors, children's librarians, and automation users. Depending on your interest, we'll flip you into various breakout rooms.
Northwest Special Teams members will facilitate the discussions. Nathan Clark will lead the director's roundtable with news from the Iowa Small Library Association and solicit PR ideas for National Library Week. Becky Bilby will lead the children's services roundtable, sharing plans for Summer Reading Programs. And Kelly Fischbach will lead the automation roundtable with a Q&A about automation products and software features.
Registration is open in the c.e. catalog. Please register in advance so we'll know how many to plan for. Catch the roundtables on March 24, with a repeat session on April 21: 9:30 - 11:30am each time. Join us for virtual roundtables - another new adventure from Northwest LSA!
2) Garnavillo Library Wins TechSoup Help
Each month, TechSoup selects a public library or nonprofit group to win an hour with one of their tech consultants. The topic is left up to the winner and the hour is spent on the phone answering questions. And how about this: the March winner was Garnavillo Public Library in northeast Iowa!
Library director Mary Fran Nikolai applied and was so pleased to win. In a population of 754, Garnavillo Library has 5 public computers and 2 staff computers. From TechSoup's news release "...being able to afford tech support is one of their top technology challenges, so this was a great opportunity to get some answers. Mary Fran asked very specific questions about the library's network, bandwidth issues, scheduling updates, and a scanner that wasn't working properly. Out intrepid tech analyst answered all of her questions, offering solutions and new ideas to try..."
If you have tech challenges - and who doesn't, right? - you too can enter for a chance to win an hour of TechTime with TechSoup. Visit their website for the application form. And congrats to Mary Fran at Garnavillo!
3) Sibley Library Throws Dr. Seuss Party
March sets up some fun kid programming by celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday. Theodore Geisel's birthday is March 2, but schools and libraries can use ready-made Seussical programs all month long. Visit these websites for ideas:
*Seussville @ http://www.seussville.com/ This is Random House Publishing site for kids
*National Education Association @http://www.nea.org sponsor of Read Across America
*Target @http://www.target.comfor Seuss books, DVDs, games, props, etc
*Kohls @http://www.kohls.com for the same
And check out all the "fun that was funny" at Sibley Public Library last week. Thanks for sending your photo story Sibley! http://www.sibley.lib.ia.us
4) Meetings / Events This Week
Tuesday, March 9, catch the last installment of The Board's Role in Human Resources. The 5-part online series concludes tomorrow night with the board's role in employee and workplace relations.
How do boards fit into this equation? Because their decisions regarding the building, safety issues, and staff appreciation affect employees at all levels. With the premise that board decisions lead to healthy workplace morale, this program shares some morale boosting tips, along with some fun websites. This is the last installment so join the conversation!
Registration is open in the c.e. catalog. We urge you to register there, because doing so ensures that you receive follow-up emails confirming date, time, and the classroom link. And oh yeah - it's nice to know how many to expect - so there is a method to the madness. Setting up an account in the c.e. catalog is easy - ask your director or your LSA office if questions.
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