Moving Forward – an update from LCLS
No. 9
August 27, 2010

Southern IL library system merger conversations:

The Lewis & Clark Library System will host an open forum on September 7, 2010, from 4:00-5:30 p.m., to discuss the system merger process.  Designed to give members the latest information about the Southern System merger process, planning panel and LCLS board members will be present to gather your feedback and address your concerns.  This is a challenging time for members and systems alike.  Through honest dialogue we will make this transition year and the merged organization one that benefits members and the patrons they serve.  I look forward to our conversation.  This meeting is open to all.  Click here to register in LibraryLearning (L2).

Be sure to check the Cooperation Today web site for updated information including documents and to comment on any aspect of the process.  We encourage member participation at meetings and welcome your comments on Cooperation Today.

LCLS Courier Services—Working for you!

In FY 2010, courier staff compiled some impressive statistics:

• Traveled 187,414 miles.
• Made 13,695 stops at member libraries.
• Picked up 1,136,825 items at member libraries.
• Delivered 1,146,8951 items to member libraries

Delivery of library materials is a core member service supported by the Illinois State Library.  This week I had the opportunity to visit a couple libraries when I drove a route, and truly appreciate the importance of material delivery to our members.

System core service hours and holiday closing:

Effective September 1, 2010, LCLS core service hours will be changed to 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  If you have an after-hours GateNet emergency, please contact the helpline at 618.921.5197.

The LCLS office will be closed Monday, September 6, 2010, for Labor Day.

Read for a Lifetime:

Another school year is underway, which means high school students can sign up for the State Library’s highly acclaimed and hugely popular Read for a Lifetime program.  Now in its 13^th year, Read for a Lifetime was the first statewide reading program to target high school students.  The primary goal of the program is to promote the enjoyment of reading, by encouraging students to read both classic and contemporary literature, and rewarding them for their effort.  By participating in Read for a Lifetime, students will hopefully develop a love of books and reading that will last a lifetime.  Participating high school students read a variety of books; the titles are listed on our web site (see link below). The list represents a mixture of classic and contemporary literature. Each student who reads at least four titles from the list during the school year receives a certificate of achievement signed by Secretary of State Jesse White.  To enroll your school or public library in Read for a Lifetime, please contact Jeanne Urbanek at jurbanek@ilsos.net. Everything you need to participate is available at http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/whats_new/rfl.html.

Geek the Library:

The Geek the Library public awareness campaign is designed to highlight the vital role of public libraries in today’s challenging environment and to increase awareness about public library funding. The campaign encourages libraries to engage with their communities and start important funding conversations.

Geek the Library was born out of the findings in From Awareness to Funding: a study of library support in America and is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. OCLC has piloted the campaign with nearly 100 libraries in diverse communities over the past year—with encouraging results. Consumer research shows high appeal for the campaign and the potential to help reverse downward public library funding trends.

Join Jenny Johnson, Executive Director, Branding & Marketing Services – OCLC, and Jennifer Pearson, Senior Manager, Advocacy Programs – OCLC, for this exciting presentation that will provide the background and research that went into the campaign, the results of the campaign pilot and information on the current phase of the campaign making it available to all U.S. public libraries. They will provide information on how to participate and answer any questions you may have about the campaign.

Geek the Library is a joint event sponsored by Lincoln Trail Libraries System, Lewis & Clark Library System, Rolling Prairie Library System, and Shawnee Library System.  The program will be held at the Effingham Hilton Garden Inn, Thursday, October 21, 2010.  For more information, click here.

Upcoming continuing education opportunities at LCLS:

• Monday, August 30, 2010 (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM), Dates in Bibliographic Records.  Click here to register in LibraryLearning (L2).

Enjoy the weather this weekend!

Leslie M. Bednar
Acting Executive Director
lesliebednar@lcls.org

This entry was posted on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 3:03 pm and is filed under Leadership & Administration, Moving Forward. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. # # You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. # #