Moving Forward – an update from LCLS

No. 34

June 24, 2011

Merger Application Approved by Secretary of State:

Transition Board members received notice today of the approval of the application by the Lewis & Clark, Lincoln Trail, Rolling Prairie and Shawnee Library Systems to merge effective July 1^st.  In granting approval pursuant to the Illinois Library System Act, Secretary of State Jesse White stated:

I offer my sincere congratulations and best wishes to the Boards of Directors, all system staff members, and to the member libraries of the Lewis & Clark, Lincoln Trail, Rolling Prairie, and Shawnee Library Systems. I am aware of the tremendous undertaking this was by all involved, and I truly appreciate your commitment to enhanced and quality services for your member libraries. Again, best wishes on this exciting and important development of the Illinois Heartland Library System.

System Office Closed July 4^th:

Our office will be closed Monday, July 4^th, and will reopen Tuesday, July 5^th.

Business Packages Awarded:

The Illinois State Library recently announced the award of almost $4,000 worth of equipment, hardware and software to help businesses and entrepreneurs in their communities create new economic growth opportunities.  Through the Business and Libraries: Working Together project, Cahokia Public Library District and the Frank Bertetti Benld Public Library will be able to expand their services to patrons looking to start or extend a small business in their community.  The program was made possible through a grant to the State Library from the U.S. Small Business Association.

Gillespie Public Library Receives Construction Grant:

The Gillespie Public Library is a happy recipient of an FY2011 Live and Learn Construction Grant.  The award will be used to replace nine old, large windows and also replace the aging brickwork around the windows.  One of sixteen recipients this year, the library received a $25,000 award for their project!

ILL Survey Reminder:

The FY 2011 ILLINET Interlibrary Loan & Reciprocal Borrowing Statistical Survey is available here for completion.  Data submitted should cover the fiscal year July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011.  The Survey will be closed on September 30, 2011.

If you have questions, please follow these guidelines:

USERNAME/PASSWORD: Contact Becky Hunter, bhunter1@ilsos.net, 217-557-7259 or Gwen Harrison, gharrison@ilsos.net, 217-785-7334. The 800 number is 1-800-665-5576 x1.

CONTENT/SUBJECT MATTER: Contact Gwen Harrison, gharrison@ilsos.net, 217-785-7334.  The 800 number is 1-800-665-5576 x1.

SOFTWARE OR TECHNOLOGY ISSUES: Contact Bibliostat at 1-866-785-9935.

WJ-IL Classes Available for Limited Time Only:

Due to a necessary reduction in course listings, WebJunction-Illinois is weeding some underused titles. Unfortunately this means the diversity and compliance Learning Paths will be phased out as of July 1 since the majority of the courses in them will no longer be available. However, if you enroll before the end of the month, you will still have your full 12 months to complete the courses.

http://webjunctionworks.org/il/blog/index.php/2011/06/14/available-for-a-limited-time-only/

Upcoming WJ-IL Webinar:

The upcoming WebJunction Webinar Information Cartographer: Social Media Librarians of the Future is scheduled for Wednesday 7/20/2011 beginning at 1:00 PM Central Time.

Ever wonder if it’s too late or too early to bring social media services to your library? Whether you are in a one-person library or one with one hundred staff, social media applications are impacting library services just like the Internet has. But how do you fit social media into your already busy schedule, and what has to change to make that possible? Will enough of your patrons use your new services to make it worth the effort? Come hear from a library that has successfully “operationalized” its social media services and actually has fun in the process. Join Stephanie Bents, digital services librarian, and Greta Chapman, director of the Rapid City Public Libraries, recognized by USA Today as one of the top libraries in the U.S.

Register for this event.

Public Library Funding and Technology Access Study Now Available:

The American Library Association’s annual study on public library funding and technology access reports in its 2010-2011 edition that libraries continue to grapple with flat or decreasing funding, paired with increasing demand for public library technology resources.  The solution?  An impressive delivery of resources to support workforce development, e-government services and skills training for the global marketplace coupled with a decrease in operating hours and closed library outlets.  Learn more from the complete study!

Upcoming continuing education opportunities at LCLS:

• Tuesday, June 28, 2011 (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM), GateNet Millennium Serials Module. Please register in LibraryLearning (L2) here.
• Thursday, June 30, 2011 (9:00 AM – 11:00 AM), GateNet Introduction to Web Management Reports. Please register in LibraryLearning (L2) here.
• Wednesday, July 6, 2011 (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM), GateNet IPLAR Workday. Please register in LibraryLearning (L2) here.
• Thursday, July 7, 2011 (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM), GateNet Circulation I: The Circulation Desk and Patron Records.  Please register in LibraryLearning (L2) here.
• Thursday, July 7, 2011 (1:00 PM – 4:00 PM), GateNet Circulation II: The Search Holds Mode and Paging List.  Please register in LibraryLearning (L2) here.

Have a great first weekend of summer!!

Leslie M. Bednar

Executive Director

lesliebednar@lcls.org

Moving Forward – an update from LCLS

No. 30

April 6, 2011

End of School Year Delivery Dates:

As the school year progresses, we would like to share significant dates regarding LCLS Courier Services:

May 6th – Last day for school requests

May 20th – Last day for school drop-off

May 27th – Last day for school pick-up

If you have any questions, please contact Brook Weber, LCLS Circulation Services Supervisor, at brookweber@lcls.org, or 618/656.3216, x112.

Transition Board meeting:

The Illinois Heartland Library System Transition Board of Directors meets Thursday, April 7, 2011, at 6 p.m. at the Effingham Hilton Garden Inn.  Agenda and supporting documentation will be posted on CooperationToday.org.  LCLS representatives on the Board are:

–Linda McDonnell, Six Mile Regional Library District

–JoAnn Nabe, Edwardsville Public Library

–Diane Steele, Wood River Public Library

Meetings will be held in person (location TBA), or by videoconference at each of the southern Illinois System headquarters.  Additional meetings are set for:

• Monday, April 25, 2011, 6 p.m.
• Monday, May 9, 2011, 6 p.m.
• Thursday, May 26, 2011, 6 p.m.
• Thursday, June 9, 2011, 6 p.m.
• Thursday, June 30, 2011, 6 p.m.

Illinois Heartland Library System (IHLS) planning:

The next planning panel meeting is set for Friday, April 8, 2011, from 10 AM – 4 PM, at the Effingham Knights of Columbus.  Agenda items will include resource sharing, and the FY12 plan of service and supporting budget.

We strongly encourage your participation at these meetings as decisions are being made which impact our ability to help our members serve their patrons.  The planning panel genuinely appreciates the feedback from audience members, and considers the input provided at meetings.  If you would like to carpool to the meeting, please contact Julia Pernicka (juliapernicka@lcls.org) or Leslie Bednar (lesliebednar@lcls.org).

Comments requested on the IHLS Resource Sharing Plan:

Please take a few minutes to review and consider the proposed IHLS Resource Sharing Plan.  The final draft reflects input from several planning panel meetings and also from members.  It is scheduled for further discussion at the April 8, 2011, planning panel meeting.  Feel welcome to add your comments on CooperationToday.

Snapshot: One Day in the Life of Illinois Libraries:

Library advocacy is quite effective when you have data to support your cause.  Consider joining your colleagues across the state Wednesday, April 13^th for Snapshot: One Day in the Life of Your Library.  We hope you find a single day dedicated to collecting stories and photos of patrons (along with a myriad of usage statistics) to be quite helpful when you make your case for continued (and increased) library funding with state lawmakers and other decision makers in your community.

What’s New at WJIL: Project Compass Workshops:

Libraries are playing a leading role in developing the workforce of the 21st century. Project Compass is a nationwide effort to support public libraries as they strive to meet the urgent and growing needs of the unemployed and underemployed.

Project Compass Workshops are scheduled throughout the State to help public library staff increase their knowledge of available resources and handle the service needs of unemployed and job-seeking patrons. In an economy where more must be done with less, these workshops will also address how libraries can utilize existing resources and partnerships.

The goal of Project Compass is to support the workforce recovery efforts of libraries, particularly in counties with high unemployment. The program will introduce library staff to programs and services which they can deliver to job-seekers in their communities. Workshops are free of charge to eligible participants.

Following is the list of workshops already scheduled:

• Peoria Heights Public Library, April 1
• Danville Public Library, May 6
• LaSalle Public Library, May 13
• Bourbonnais Public Library, May 18
• Cherry Valley Public Library District, May 20
• Lewis and Clark Library System, Edwardsville, June 3
• Bensenville Public Library, June 10
• Taylorville Public Library, June 20
• Carthage, Carl Sandburg College, July 13

For additional information on these workshops and participant eligibility please send an email to Bill Erbes at projectcompass@benlib.org.

Related URLS: Workforce Resources: http://il.webjunction.org/workforce-resources ; Project Compass: http://il.webjunction.org/project-compass

Upcoming continuing education opportunities at LCLS:

• Thursday, April 7, 2011 (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM), GateNet Circulation I: The Circulation Desk and Patron Records. Please register in LibraryLearning (L2) here.
• Thursday, April 7, 2011 (1:00 PM – 4:00 PM), GateNet Circulation II: The Search Holds Mode and Paging List. Please register in LibraryLearning (L2) here.
• Tuesday, April 19, 2011 (9:00 AM – 11:00 AM), GateNet Catalogers Meeting. Please register in LibraryLearning (L2) here.
• Tuesday, April 19, 2011 (11:00 AM – 12:00 PM), GateNet Catalogers Problem-Solving Session. Please register in LibraryLearning (L2) here.
• Wednesday, April 20, 2011 (9:30 AM – 11:30 AM), GateNet Users Forum. Please register in LibraryLearning (L2) here.
• Thursday, April 21, 2011 (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM), MARC Coding and Matching (AKA Can I Use this Record?). Please register in LibraryLearning (L2) here.

Did You Know?

When the Lewis & Clark Library System was established 45 years ago, it had just six member libraries—all public libraries?  Today the System serves 133 member libraries—8 academic, 55 public, 61 schools and 9 special libraries!

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Leslie M. Bednar

Executive Director

lesliebednar@lcls.org