NWILS 2010 TOP 10 LIST

It’s been a tradition at Northwest LSA for several years now to share our picks for the Top10 Stories From Around the Region. Drum roll…


Our Top 10 List for 2010:

10...Northwest Elves Have Been Busy All Year: The year past shows some proud statistics


• 3,037 interlibrary loan requests processed

• 2,000+ contacts with member libraries

• 39 workshops, both solely and jointly sponsored, including online classes

• 1,035 people in attendance at workshops and training

• 60 libraries visited on-site

We’re so ready for our long winter’s nap!

9…Jamboree’s New Format: You asked for it, you got it. C.E. Jamboree, Northwest LSA’s popular spring workshop, switched to a fresh format, thanks to your suggestions. General sessions bookended the day; in between, fewer breakout sessions allowed everyone in attendance to attend every session. Everyone loved the new format, so we’ll do it again come Jamboree 2011.

8...Dewey Comes Back: Vicki Myron and publishers released two more Dewey books in 2010. A second adult title called Dewey’s Nine Lives and a second children’s title called Dewey’s Christmas at the Library. Proving that Dewey’s magic continues to inspire and endure. Congratulations to Vicki on another great year.

7...The Boardroom Debuts: To accompany the Trustee Troubles DVD, Northwest LSA began a monthly newsletter called The Boardroom. The newsletter followed each segment on the DVD, intended to serve as a reminder for boards to watch the next segment. Remember, you can find all copies of the newsletter on our website, along with discussion questions. We’ve received so many good comments about The Boardroom, so thank you for that and for your continued interest in watching good ‘ole Dan starring in Trustee Troubles!

6...Career Reading Roundtable Scores: Ahh…the power of blogging! A few weeks ago, Jean posted a news piece on our blog about January’s Career Reading Roundtable, our online book discussion group. The next book up for discussion on January 26 is Confessions of a Public Speaker by Scott Berkun. Well, a Christmas miracle occurred when the author emailed Jean asking if he could attend the program.

To which Jean answered “Attend, sure—but how about leading it?!” To which Scott Berkun answered “Lead it? Sure!” CRR scores the author—very cool !!

5...ARSL Conference in Denver: Thanks to approval from NWILS Board, I attended the annual ARSL (Association for Rural and Small Libraries) Conference in Denver in October. In this “top 10” vein, I presented a breakout session entitled “A Top 10 List for Trustee Training.” Fun and lighthearted program, in case this sounds good to Northwest Iowa—Colorado said they liked it :-)

4...Welcome New Directors: Join us in welcoming these new directors hired in 2010. Sarah Weiss @ Pomeroy and Amy Zevenbergen @ Doon. We’re looking forward to working with you!

3...eBooks Come to WILBOR: Just in time for the holidays, the WILBOR Consortium introduced eBooks into the collection on December 1. And a surprising number of eBooks, too: we launched with 690 titles and already the eBook collection has grown to over 900. A very exciting year for WILBOR!

2...13Things: And an equally exciting—and may I say ambitious—year for online education in Northwest LSA. We sponsored 13Things, a 13-part online series stretching from August through November. 13Things urged attendees to make a true change in the way we work by making deliberate use of web-based tools. Great guest stars, great attendance, and all-around big fun. Once we get some sleep, we’ll decide if we have the moxie to repeat this in the spring...

1...Reorganization Committee: Not a happy highlight by anyone’s account, but certainly the most talked-about library news story this past year swirled around the work of the Reorganization Committee. This committee was formed in the spring to help configure a new model for providing library support services, those services you’ve come to know from the LSAs and the State Library. All this following a drastic winter of budget cuts: in 2010, the LSAs saw the deepest single-year budget reduction in the agency’s 37-year history. The Reorganization Committee’s work culminated in a report submitted to the legislature on November 1. Now we wait…stay tuned...

Online Storytimes at Barnes&Noble.com

      Here’s a delightful discovery that’s new to me and might also be new to you. From the Association for Rural and Small Libraries came this post on their listserve:

       When you visit Barnes& Noble’s website, click the KIDS tab, and you’ll find online storytimes—popular children’s stories read aloud by authors and celebrities. And fittingly for this month, the online storytime features Polar Express, read by the author Chris Van Allsburg. Here’s the link—enjoy!

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/storytime/index.asp

Mischievous Elves Surprise Elementary Students

     Albert City Public Library elves “Jingle” and “Belle” raided the library shelves and surprised the AC/T students at
the elementary school in Albert City on Monday, December 6^th at 1:30pm.   Library Director, Mary Johnson, aka “Jingle” and Board President, Ebba Youngberg, aka “Belle” enthusiastically presented many new books to enhance the children’s love of reading.   Since it is the Christmas Season, they performed to Kay Thompson’s Jingle Bells from the Michael W. Smith “Christmastime” CD encouraging the audience to sing along.    They brought more new books than they could possibly introduce, but presented some of their favorite holiday children’s picture books as well as chapter books for advanced readers plus graphic novels and fiction for the upper elementary.   One of the library’s new Christmas books, “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas”, was shared.  Jingle led the audience in singing this classic traditional Christmas song.   “Mrs. Claus Takes a Vacation” is Belle’s favorite Christmas book and she enjoyed entertaining the children by reading some of the pages.   Jingle got a charge out of “When the Cows Come Home for Christmas” and brought the house down with “The PS Brothers”.  She reminded the children that even though school would be closed through Christmas and New Year’s holidays, the library will be open most weekdays for them to choose books, magazines, puzzles and movies to fill their time.  

      Jingle and Belle were excited about all the computers available to use and the comfortable seating provided for reading.   Those fun-loving elves are hopeful that children of all ages will continue to come to the Public Library for education, entertainment and fun! "When you open a book you open a world of fantasy, mystery, reality, romance and laughter. At the Albert City Public Library you just never know what great things you’ll find until you come in a check it out! ", says Jingle.   

The elves wish each and everyone a very Merry Christmas

 and a Happy New Year. 

Adult Programs + Recipes at Milford Public Library

     Here’s a neat, sweet idea from the staff at Milford Public Library. Attendees at the library’s adult programs always enjoy the goodies on the refreshment table. And invariably, people will ask for the recipes. So staff has started posting the recipes on the library’s website.


      If you visit this week, you’ll find two delicious-sounding holiday recipes, one for chocolate cupcakes and one for jam thumbprint cookies.

     Photos of the chefs are there, too :-)  Thanks to Tena for sending this idea—find the recipes here http://www.milford.lib.ia.us/library-information/friends/recipes

Join In the Discussion

** Exciting Update!**
Scott Berkun the author of “Confessions of a Public Speaker” has agreed to facilitate the discussion on January 26th! 
Space is limited so register now in the CE catalog.
The next Career Reading Roundtable is Wednesday, January 26th, 9:30 – 11:30am in the Northwest Online Classroom. The book is “Confessions of a Public Speaker” By Scott Berkun.

     “In this hilarious and highly practical book, author and professional speaker Scott Berkun reveals the techniques behind what great communicators do, and shows how anyone can learn to use them well. For anyone else who talks and expects someone to listen, Confessions of a Public Speaker provides an insider's perspective on how to effectively present ideas to anyone. You'll get new insights into the art of persuasion, based on Scott's 15 years of experience speaking to crowds of all sizes.” 

Now’s the time to get your copy and start reading! You can register in the CE catalog.

Future of the Book - Part 2

      Last week we shared the findings of a national survey from the Library Research Service (LRS) The 60-Second Survey: The Future of the Book asked people what they thought of paper books vs eBooks, the comparative costs, advantages, etc.


      The survey was advertised on several listserves, the LRS website and blog, and in ALA’s weekly e-newsletter. More than 1,300 people participated, with 71% commenting on the blog.

     Today, a summary of answers to part 2 of the survey, Beyond the Bathtub: Personal Preferences Among Many Factors Influencing Format Choice.

• When asked about their prediction for the future of the paper book, 63% believed that books would never disappear, while 11% thought there would no longer be paper books 100 years from now.

• 46% of respondents felt that multiple formats would continue to coexist successfully in libraries and in the retail world, seeing eBooks as a techie reading alternative—but not a replacement—of paper books

• 1-out-of-4 people commented on the unique emotional and aesthetic appeal of paper books, comments that revealed heartfelt, personal attachment to paper books. People noted the experience of reading also involves touching, holding, smelling, being moved by illustrations; there were common references to “curling up with a good book…”

     And these quotes on both sides of the paper VS eBook issue: “...who wants to read their kid a bedtime story using a Kindle? And what e-reader can simulate the experience of looking at a coffee table art book with high-quality reproductions? I just don’t see how e-readers supplant the paper book in these areas…”
And…

“...electronic materials will continue to rise in popularity and will eventually take on some format we can’t even imagine now. Regarding a timeframe, it won’t happen overnight. We’ll have time to prepare and adapt, so relax…”

     Wouldn’t all this make an interesting adult discussion program? You can read this LRS study, The Future of the Book Part1-Part2 on the LRS website http://www.lrs.or/g In the right-hand navigation box, click on Fast Facts...

Kid-Friendly Recipes from School Library Monthly

     Neat article in the October issue of School Library Monthly (vol27.no2. Oct2010) “Recipes and Resources” includes easy recipes that little kids can make; the treats are connected to favorite books.


     Like so many hundreds of journals, you can read School Library Monthly in full text via EBSCOHost. Why not try some of these recipes in future storytimes—here’s a taste!

• Cat in the Hat Cookies, based on…well sure…The Cat in the Hat
• Pumpkin Pie in a Cup. Featured book Miss Fiona’s Stupendous Pumpkin Pies by Mark Kimball Moulton
• Little Mouse Cookie. Featured book If You Take a Mouse to School
• Gingerbread Cake in a Cup. Featured book The Gingerbread Man retold by Eric Kimmel
• Valentine’s Day Rice Crispy Lollipops. Featured book The Valentine Bears by Eve Bunting
• Turkey Treats. Featured book The Silly Turkey Party by Steve Metzger

IA Dept. of Revenue asking for Library Help

Dear Librarians - The Iowa Department of Revenue is once again asking for your help. Their message is below. If you want to make posters from this information and put them by public computers, please feel free to do so. Or, you can just print the message as is and make it available. IDR thanks you for your help.

eFile For a Fast Income Tax Refund!

Receive your Iowa income tax refund in 10 days or less when you electronically file your tax return(s). You can eFile through the Iowa Department of Revenue Web site, file through a tax professional, or purchase income tax software. Last year, 78% of Iowa income tax returns were eFiled.

Beginning January 14, click the eFile logo on the Iowa Department of Revenue Web site (www.iowa.gov/tax/) for links to income tax software for online filing of federal and Iowa income tax returns, and to find out if you qualify to file for free. Then, follow the simple instructions to eFile! Online filing is fast, easy, and secure.

File electronically. Good for the environment. Good for you.

Iowa Small Libraries Online Conference 2011

         The fourth annual ISLOC conference, "Exploring the Possibilities, Embracing the Future" offers keynote speakers, concurrent sessions on a variety of topics, an evening session just for trustees, poster sessions, and an exhibit hall--all online in Adobe Connect classrooms, so librarians and trustees can attend from their home or libraries. Participants can "come and go" from the conference, attending the sessions in which they're interested. (Up to 5 hours CE credit, depending on number of sessions you attend; certificates given at end of each session.)
Keynote speakers are George Needham (morning) and Jim Connor (evening trustees session)

Sessions include:

The Bookstore Model

Library Districts in the Code...and a County Reality

Small Steps to Big Change: Enliven Your Work with Webtools

Tech Trends for Small Libraries

Presentation Zen: Making Memorable PowerPoint Slide Shows

Recruiting and Managing Volunteers

Youth Outreach

Reader's Advisory and eBooks

Staff Incentives on a budget



Poster sessions:

"Dirty Thirties" Video History Project at Shenandoah PL

Library Ark: Freddy Frog and Grant the Dog: Library Mascots

QR/Two Dimensional Codes

Ereaders

Finding Newsworthy Content

Trustee Trouble Videos: How Are Libraries Using Them?



Vendors will be available in the Virtual Exhibit Hall to talk with participants and show them their products.
Schedule and other information, including links to enter the classrooms can be found on the conference website: http://www.swilsa.lib.ia.us/isloc (Please note: the links to the classrooms will not be "live" until the day of the conference.)

SWILSA - Online Thursday January 20th, 2011 09:00AM - 07:30PM

To view details for this event and to register, please Click Here

All Are Invited * Staff Development Day *

          Le Mars Public Library hosts their annual staff development day. This year's program highlights "a few of our favorite things": web-based applications from Northwest LSA's 13Things online series.


This class includes demonstration and hands-on practice in using these web applications:

** Today's Communication = instant messaging, Skype, and Adobe Classrooms

** Doodle Poll and Survey Monkey

** Wow-Factor Websites

Sponsored by Le Mars Public Library, this staff training day is open to surrounding area libraries.

LeMars Public Library is wireless; please bring a laptop computer if you have one available.
________________________________________

Le Mars Public Library Thursday January 06th, 2011 09:00AM - 12:00PM
________________________________________

To view details for this event and to register, please Click Here

Future of the Book - Part 1

             The Library Research Service (LRS) recently conducted a national survey.  The 60-Second Survey: The Future of the Book asked people what they thought of paper books vs eBooks, the comparative costs, advantages, etc.  The survey was advertised on several listserves, the LRS website and blog, and in ALA’s weekly e-newsletter.  More than 1,300 people participated, with 71% commenting on the blog.

          LRS has published a 2-part article of the findings on their website http://www.lrs.org/ Part 1 is titled The Future of the Book: Perception of Cost and Technological Advantages of Paper and Electronic Formats. Part 2 is titled Beyond the Bathtub: Personal Preferences Among Many Factors Influencing Format Choice. Just a sampling of the survey results show that:


• 2-in-3 respondents (63%) believe that paper books will never disappear

• Much smaller percentages (11%) believe paper books will disappear in 100 years; 11% say 50-100 years, 15% say within the next 50 years.

• Regarding what respondents say libraries will circulate 10 years from now, 48% predict an equal amount of paper vs electronic materials; 53% predict that library circulation of electronic materials will surpass physical materials in 10 years; 16% predicted libraries will circulate more physical materials.

         From Part 1 of the LRS survey, here are some great quotes on both sides of the issue: “Books are a cheap, simple, durable, transferable, and persistent technology. Most eBooks I have seen so far meet none of these criteria…”
And
“Books will always have a place, but I find the eBook format has made me a convert…I foresee vast educational uses for this format—easy access to references and background information, plus it would be helpful for an array of special education reading problems…”

Next week...a summary of Part2. In the meantime, read The Future of the Book study on the LRS website.

News to Peruse on NWILS Blog

     Have you checked in lately to peruse that news?  Northwest LSA has a blog - NWILS Bulletin Board.  It’s loaded with library news stories and trends, photos from workshops around the region, and the content of each week’s Monday Morning Eye-Opener.


     The Eye-Opener’s format and length is limited to only a few stories at a time. But the Bulletin Board Blog has more to see. NWILS Bulletin Board recently had an article about the newest ALA Celebrity Read posters featuring the Harry Potter stars. You can find library management books and oversize storybooks available for borrowing from NWILS professional collection. Read about opportunities for for deep discounts when purchasing paper for your library’s photocopier and printers, along with reminders about workshops and webinars.


     And the reading is easy: just click the FOLLOW button to subscribe to an RSS feed. NWILS blog uses Google Friends Connect as the feed to send you email notices when new stories are added. The blog is refreshed often—and we’re anxious for more followers—thus this reminder from us “...follow us on NWILS Bulletin Board Blog!” http://www.nwilsblog.blogspot.com/.

In Other WILBOR News

     Ebooks will appear in the WILBOR collection this week—just in time for the holidays! So for all WILBOR libraries ramping up for this exciting development, here are a few policy points, promotional info, and training opportunities:


• Checkout period for ebooks will be 14 days; checkout period for audiobooks will remain at 7 days

• Maximum number of items for any individual to have in their account remains at 3 items; whether 3 audios, 3 ebooks, or any combination, the maximum items that can be checked out at any one time is 3.

• For those libraries fully participating in the ebook side of WILBOR (meaning those paying in via the cost-sharing formula) look for promotional materials including posters, flyers, bookmarks, and business cards to be shipped to your library soon.

• Also, for those libraries fully participating, you should have already received a sample press release to help spread the good news

• As for training opportunities: Overdrive is offering an online program this very afternoon at 2:00PM. These details were emailed to you last week. No need to pre-register; the program will be recorded. If you can’t make the Overdrive show today, Southwest and East Central LSA offices will offer an orientation to ebooks as they apply to WILBOR. Catch that Dec1 @ 2:00PM and Dec2 at 9:00AM. That’s online in Southwest LSA’s Adobe Classroom http://iowaec.na4.acrobat.com/swilsa

Library Looking for GREAT deal on paper?

Is your library looking for a good deal on paper for copiers, printers, and faxes? 

You can order paper through the IEC with significant discounts. 

Click on the link below to download order forms and contact IEC representatives about your paper order:



http://www.iec-ia.org/vnews/display.v/ART/456cab49e7e8b

Top Tech Trends for the Non-Technical

     When it comes to technology, the gap between "I can't believe the library has that!" and "I can't believe the library doesn't have that!" is getting shorter and shorter. Even if you're not a techie at heart, you probably agree that staying abreast of new tech tools and techniques is an important part of providing relevant library service. But isn't there some easy way to keep up with all the changes without bogging down in impenetrable details or permanently ruining what's left of your work/life balance?

     The answer, of course, is yes! Just spend an hour with Joan Frye Williams, Infopeople's own trend spotter and tech explainer extraordinaire. Joan will bring you up to speed on what's hot, what's not, what you can just ignore, and what you need to know to stay in the mainstream. She'll describe the technologies that are most likely to change the way you work, and how you can prepare for those changes. She'll also point you towards the best technology investments for people with limited time and dollars.

     Joan promises to deliver a technology update that is both painless and practical. Don't miss it!

This one-hour webinar will be of interest to staff in all types of libraries

For More Information and to Register CLICK HERE.
Start Time: Pacific - Noon, Mountain - 1:00 PM, Central - 2:00 PM, Eastern - 3:00 PM