In This Issue: 10.03.08
Using Statistics to Protect Your Library from the Budget Knife • The Future of Wisconsin Libraries • Free Library Webinars • New to the NWLS Collection • The Roald Dahl Funny Prize • Funny Fiction for Teens • Teen Read Week • NWLS Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes • Printing Web Pages • Useful URLs • Reflection
C A L E N D A R
October 11 Northwoods Conference, 8:30-3:00, Rothschild Village Hall
October 14 Technology Tools for Library 2.0,
10:00–2:30, Washburn
October 15 Technology Tools for Library 2.0,
10:00–2:30, Mercer
October 23 Merlin Consortium Meeting,
NWLS,
10:00–1:00
November 4-7
Wisconsin Library Association Conference,
Madison Marriott West, Middleton
November 8 NWLS Board of Trustees Meeting, NWLS, 12:00
UW-Madison SLIS Continuing Education: New Rules of Web Design, November 1-31
Page upC U R R E N T . E V E N T S
Using Statistics to Protect Your Library from the Budget Knife
From Michael Sheehan, NWLS Assistant Director - On September 22, 2008, Al Zimmerman, of the Division for Libraries, Technology and Community Learning, and Peter Hamon, retired South Central Library System director, presented a workshop on analyzing and presenting library data in order to make stronger budget presentations.
Al began the presentation by discussing the idea behind tracking library data, and how it is compiled for national reports that can be accessed and used for comparison on national, state and local levels. He pointed out that the results of library efforts on the Annual Report allow librarians to see trends in library service and where Wisconsin libraries rank with other states in terms of those services. Much of this information can be accessed by going to http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/dm-lib-stat.html.
The group was then led through guidelines for using the library statistical data. Al pointed out that a really good presentation will be simple, graphically pleasing, memorable, and carry provisions of perspective, trend analysis, library standards, and peer comparisons. Al went over an example of how a library can manipulate the saved Excel data found at the DPI website to create peer statistical data. Librarians can use the “filter” function to attain the best comparable data for these purposes.
Al then took the group through the most recent changes made to the Annual Report document. Libraries should be aware of updates in the Library Collection section, Library Operating Revenue section, and the section on Staffing. The section pertaining to special needs services has been removed from the Annual Report. The compliance section of the Report will also reflect two new library participation requirements from Act 420 that took effect in 2008.
Peter Hamon then took over the remainder of the workshop time to discuss the politics of the budget process. In Peter’s experience he found some things that worked for him in presenting his budget: he promoted balancing the line item budget with a program budget; he learned that developing relationships is a must; he discovered that much of the process falls to motivated individuals and he had to become an active participant and partner; he encouraged librarians to branch outside the library world and entice other key markets; he reminded librarians to work to the library base (in patrons); he offered help in developing a list of key constituents and invited them to talk at a committee or meeting, and followed up after such meetings; and he encouraged librarians to market themselves better.
By combining the data and numbers with the social networking, the budget presentation can be a more successful endeavor.
The Future of Wisconsin Libraries
From Channel Weekly, October 4 - The Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND) has developed a website (http://blog.uwgb.edu/coland/) that invites everyone to be involved in creating the future of libraries. The website shares the results of a visioning summit held last May to map out the future of libraries in Wisconsin, and COLAND welcomes your response. The Strategic Visioning Summit on the Future of the Library, sponsored by COLAND in cooperation with Superintendent of Public Instruction Elizabeth Burmaster, was an invitational event attended by 100 key library leaders and library advocates from across Wisconsin. In developing the vision for libraries, summit participants took into consideration Superintendent Burmaster’s 21st century education initiatives as well as Governor Doyle’s Grow Wisconsin plan.
The results of the visioning summit are documented in the Beginnings Report on the Future of the Library. This report includes the “Roadmap to the Future of Wisconsin Libraries,” a section containing the vision statement, values statements, strategic directions and tactics for carrying out the vision and strategic directions. COLAND invites you to share your comments on the ideas, language, what’s missing and/or the relative importance of these ambitions.
The broad community of library users, library supporters, and library staff, are encouraged to read the report and respond to the ideas, implement the ideas locally, or volunteer to work on action items. Working together libraries and their communities will continue to sustain and transform the educational vitality and economic prosperity of Wisconsin.
Additional opportunities for discussion:
• WEMTA's Wired Wednesday, Oct. 15, 7:30 pm - contact keitschr@hssd.k12.wi.us to register.
• Wisconsin Library Association Annual Conference in Middleton, on Thursday, November 6 at 4:00 pm.
Free Library Webinars
Train-the-Trainer: The Power of Stories in Technology Training
When: Oct. 8th, 11:00am - 12:00pm Pacific
Where: Register on MaintainIT's webinar space, (https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/schedule/display.do?rfe=7sdkia97utgq&udc=8yml38uymdo1)
Library trainers from around the country are finding this popular webinar series a great opportunity to discuss training tips, techniques and resources. This month we will focus on how storytelling can enhance your participants’ learning and retention. Come prepared to share your training tips, too.
Get Your Game On: Quick tips to start a gaming program
When: Oct. 16th, 11:00am – 11:30am Pacific, 30 Minute Webinar
Where: WebJunction's webinar space (Please register on WebJunction: http://www.webjunction.org/maintainit-webinars/resources/overview)
Join Lori Reed, Employee Learning Coordinator at the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg, as she interviews Beth Gallaway, a library trainer/consultant specializing in gaming, technology, and youth services. This will be a fast-paced and interactive session introducing the idea of gaming programs in libraries.
New to the NWLS Collection
NWLS has recently added to Merlin From Awareness to Funding: a Study of Library Support in America, an OCLC report on marketing public library funding. The report documents findings of research funded by a 2006 Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant to evaluate the potential of a national marketing campaign to increase public library funding in the U.S.
Among the findings from the report:
• Library funding support is only marginally related to library visitation
• Perceptions of librarians are an important predictor of library funding support
• Voters who see the library as a 'transformational' force as opposed to an 'informational' source are more likely to increase taxes in its support
The report suggests that targeting marketing messages to the right segments of the voting public is key to driving increased support for U.S. public libraries.
The Roald Dahl Funny Prize
From Alison Flood, The Guardian, Monday September 8, 2008 - The Roald Dahl Funny prize was founded by the children's laureate Michael Rosen to boost the profile of humorous books as part of his campaign to put the fun back into children's reading. "Almost all children love funny books; it's what helps hook them into the reading habit", said Rosen. "A good humor book is in its own way subversive - it disrupts the flow of everyday life, makes it seem absurd."
From a new Paddington book to Dinah Capparucci's Aliens Don't Eat Dog Food and Louise Rennison's Stop in the Name of Pants! judges promise that every title on the shortlists is "properly tears-in-eyes, wheezing, sneezing, snorting funny". The winner of each category will be announced on November 13.
The shortlist for children aged six and under:
• Stick Man by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
• Elephant Wellyphant by Nick Sharratt
• The Great Paper Caper by Oliver Jeffers
• The Witch's Children Go to School by Ursula Jones, illustrated by Russell Ayto
• There's an Ouch in My Pouch! by Jeanne Willis, illustrated by Garry Parsons
• Manfred the Baddie by John Fardell
The shortlist for children aged seven to fourteen:
• Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear by Andy Stanton, illustrated by David Tazzyman
• Paddington Here and Now by Michael Bond, illustrated by RW Alley
• Stop in the Name of Pants! by Louise Rennison
• Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce
• Aliens Don't Eat Dog Food by Dinah Capparucci
• Urgum and the Goo Goo Bah! By Kjartan Poskitt, illustrated by Philip Reeve
Funny Fiction for Teens
From American Library Association Teen Reading
Grade/Author/Date/Title
7-12 . . Bagdasarian, Adam. 2002. First French Kiss and Other Traumas.
9+. . . . Cabot, Meg. 2003. All-American Girl.
7+. . . . Ferris, Jean. 1998. Love among the Walnuts.
7+. . . . Fleischman, Paul. 1997. A Fate Totally Worse Than Death.
6-9 . . . Hopkins, Cathy. 2005. Mates, Dates and Inflatable Bras.
7-10 . . Howe. Norma. 2000. Adventures of Blue Avenger.
7-12 . . Juby, Susan. 2005. Miss Smithers.
6-10 . . Koertge, Ron. 1998. Confess-O-Rama.
9+. . . . Lockhart, E. 2005. The Boyfriend List.
8+. . . . Lowry, Brigid. 2006. Things You Either Hate or Love.
8+. . . . Mackler, Carolyn. 2004. Vegan Virgin Valentine.
9+. . . . Nodelman. Perry. 2000. Behaving Bradley.
7-10 . . O'Connell, Tyne. 2004. Pulling Princes.
4-8 . . . Paulsen, Gary. 1998. The Schernoff Discoveries.
4+. . . . Pinkwater, Daniel. 1997. 5 Novels.
7-9 . . . Rennison, Louise. 2000. Angus, Thongs, & Full-frontal Snogging.
4+. . . . Snicket, Lemony. 1999. A Bad Beginning.
9+. . . . Strasser, Todd. 2000. How I Spent My Last Night on Earth.
Teen Read Week
Teen Read Week will be celebrated Oct. 12–18 by nearly 5,000 libraries across the United States, with a theme of Books with Bite @ your library®. Teen Read Week is a national literacy initiative aimed at teens, their parents, librarians, educators, booksellers and other concerned adults. The purpose of the event is to increase the number of teens who are regular readers and library users. It began in 1998 and is celebrated the third week in October. For more information visit the American Library Association Teen Read Week Web site at http://www.ala.org/teenread.
As Teen Read Week approaches, the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) offers several promotional resources and a podcast on tips for using tools such as sample press releases and scripts for public service announcements. Nancy Cartwright, who plays Bart on “The Simpsons,” recorded three PSAs which can be downloaded. The YALSA's Teen Read wiki http://wikis.ala.org/yalsa/index.php/Teen_Read_Week welcomes contributions to the resources for teens including links to articles, book lists, marketing and program ideas that help make teen programs succeed.
NWLS Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes
September 20, 2008,
NWLS Headquarters, Ashland
1. Call to Order/Roll Call
Mary Poretti called the meeting to order at 10:03 a.m.
Present: Buzz Byrne (Burnett County), Kathy Byrns (Iron County), Carol Eder (Bayfield County), Richard Ehlert (Sawyer County), Bill Farris (Washburn County), Tuula Harris (Douglas County), Shirley Harrison (Vilas County), Charles LaBelle (Vilas County), Karen Livingston (Douglas County), Al Lundquist (Ashland County), Kathy McCoy (Sawyer County), Deb Nordgren (Douglas County), Mary Poretti (Burnett County), Carolyn Sweeney (Superior Public Library), Tom Thompson (Iron County), Jim Trojanowski (Director), Linda Stobbe (Office Manager)
Excused: Martye Allen (Douglas County), Michael Bobin (Washburn County), Joseph Crawford (Ashland County), Marcia Wellnitz (Bayfield County).
2. Guest Comments
None.
3. Approval of the July 19, 2008, NWLS Board Meeting Minutes
Karen Livingston moved to approve the minutes of the July 19, 2008, Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes. Shirley Harrison seconded. Carried unanimously.
4. Approval of July and August, 2008, NWLS Expenditures
Al Lundquist moved to approve the May and June, 2008, NWLS Expenditures. Carol Eder. Carried unanimously.
5. Approval of August 31, 2008, Financial Statement and Budget Report
Buzz Byrne moved to approve the June 30, 2008, Financial Statement and Budget Report. Bill Farris seconded. Carried unanimously.
6. 2009 NWLS Budget and Plan of Service
Karen Livingston moved to approve the 2009 NWLS Budget and Plan of Service with a 3% pay increase for all employees. Carolyn Sweeney seconded. Carried unanimously.
7. 2009 Member Library Agreements
Kathy Byrns moved to approve the 2009 Member Library Agreements. Carol Eder seconded. Carried unanimously.
8. 2009 County Service Agreements
Shirley Harrison moved to approve the 2009 County Service Agreements. Buzz Byrne seconded. Carried unanimously.
9. Superior Public Library 2009 Resource Library Agreement
Karen Livingston moved to approve the 2009 Resource Library Agreement with Superior Public Library. Bill Farris seconded. Carried unanimously.
10. Executive Session as authorized by Wisconsin Statute s.19.85(1)c to conduct the Director’s annual evaluation.
Kathy Byrns moved to go into executive session under Wisconsin Statute s.19.85(1) for the purpose of conducing the Director’s evaluation. Al Lundquist seconded. On a roll call vote the motion carried unanimously. Shirley Harrison moved to return to open session. Kathy Byrns seconded. Carried unanimously.
Mary Poretti reported that the board is pleased with the work of the Director.
11. Director’s Report
Jim Trojanowski provided updates on the following:
· Vaughn Public Library (Ashland) – possible building project.
· Lac Courte Oreilles library – progress toward Merlin live date.
· Mercer Public Library – new director.
· Arbor Vitae membership in Eagle River joint library.
12. Adjourn
Mary Poretti declared the meeting adjourned at 12:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Jim Trojanowski
T E C H N O L O G Y
Printing Web Pages
From Technology Bites, September 21 - PrintWhatYouLike is a useful tool that allows you to customize the printing of any web page. Enter the URL, hit enter, and the page opens with a sidebar containing editing tools that allow you to edit the page. You can change the text font and size, and delete elements such as images, sidebars, backgrounds, etc.
U S E F U L . U R Ls
The Ultimate Teen Reading List
Teenreads.com provides a list of more than 250 choice titles to inspire teens to be life long readers. Other sections include information on book clubs, series titles, books in movies, and a pre-published books.
URL:
http://www.teenreads.com/features/ultimate-reading-list.asp
High School Ace
High School Ace is a web directory of quality free educational resources for teens. Features include a reference collection, subject guides, study guides, college guides and news links.
URL: http://highschoolace.com/
R E F L E C T I O N
"Believe in yourself, your neighbors, your work, your ultimate attainment of more complete happiness. It is only the farmer who faithfully plants seeds in the Spring, who reaps a harvest in Autumn."
- B. C. Forbes, financial journalist, author, founder of Forbes Magazine
Contact NWLS for subscription services or to submit an article for publication: email Marsha at newsletter@nwls.lib.wi.us or call 715-682-2365.
NWLS: 3200 E. Lake Shore Dr. • Ashland, WI 54806 • Phone: (715) 682-2365 • Web: http://nwls.wislib.org •
Serving libraries in Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Sawyer, Vilas and Washburn Counties.
