In This Issue: 10.17.08
Characteristics of Good Library Trustees • Nancy Pearl, Sharing Your Love of Great Books • American Libraries Opens Access • Library Internet Use Survey • Ancestry Library Edition • 7 Ways to Save @ Your Library • Merlin Popular Holds • Technology • Useful URLs • Reflection
C A L E N D A R
October 23 Merlin Consortium Meeting,
NWLS,
10:00–1:00
November 4-7
Wisconsin Library Association Conference,
Madison Marriott West, Middleton
November 1-31 UW-Madison SLIS Continuing Education: New Rules of Web Design
November 8 NWLS Board of Trustees Meeting, NWLS, 12:00
Page up
C U R R E N T . E V E N T S
Characteristics of Good Library Trustees
From Jim Trojanowski, NWLS Director - I am often asked by directors and board presidents with vacancies on the board of trustees what they should look for in new trustees. A common assumption is that good trustees must be library patrons, a belief that limits the pool of candidates to a much narrower segment of the community. While it is helpful to have library users on the board, those who do not use the library may have skills that can help the library grow. Non-users may also help the library develop programs that meet needs of other non-users, thereby helping to increase patronage. Following are just a few characteristics of good trustees.
Knowledge of the community
Trustees are responsible for working with the director to plan library services, a task that requires an understanding of community needs. Trustees who know their community are active in community groups and activities and they are able to call on other community members who have talents that will benefit the library.
Political savvy
Libraries are established and funded by cities, villages, towns, and counties. The state legislature and the governor pass laws that affect libraries and public library systems are state-funded. It is important to have library trustees who are politically well-connected and able to build support for the library services with local and state officials.
Vision
Good trustees always want the library to be better than it already is even when the library is already doing an excellent job. These trustees recognize that change is essential to a healthy organization and they do not accept the status quo.
Belief in the importance of the library
This characteristic is, I believe, more important in trustees than whether or not they use the library. Even those who do not use the library can believe that a strong library is a cornerstone of a thriving community. Many non-users of the library have family members – parents, children, or spouses – who are regular library patrons. Trustees who combine a strong belief in the importance of the library with other characteristics on this list can be extraordinarily powerful advocates for the library even though they do not use the library.
Works well with others
A strong library board includes trustees with a variety of viewpoints who can recognize that all trustees, regardless of their opinion on a given topic, share a common goal – the best possible library service for their community. These trustees are able to compromise, and they know that once the board makes a decision it belongs to the entire board, even to those who disagree with it. Trustees who act independently of the board undermine it and serve themselves, not the library.
Specialization
Library boards often find it helpful to have trustees with special knowledge. Many boards try to keep an attorney who can offer advice on those rare occasions when knowledge of the law is helpful as a trustee. Boards exploring a building project may find it helpful to have an architect or contractor who can help understand the project (these board members should never be involved in carrying out the project since this may be a conflict of interest). A library in a community with an aging population may find it helpful to have a trustee familiar with the needs of senior citizens. Good boards are not homogenous; instead, they reflect the diversity of the community the library serves.
Commitment
Good trustees are usually active in a variety of community groups, and they will miss meetings from time-to-time because of schedule conflicts. A trustee who misses too many meetings, however, cannot serve the library well. Library board by-laws should set attendance requirements for trustees, and these should be enforced except in rare circumstances where a trustee may have excused absences for a limited period of time. Trustees should also attend special activities of the library, system workshops, and other library-related events whenever possible.
There are, of course, many other desirable attributes in library trustees. This list is meant to help library trustees and directors think about who in the community may be a good choice to serve on the board in the future. It may also be a helpful tool for current trustees to evaluate their roles on the board and the skills they have to offer.
Nancy Pearl, Sharing Your Love of Great Books
From Linda Bailen, NWLS - I was fortunate to have the chance to see Nancy Pearl in person at the Northwest Wisconsin Children's Book Conference on October 2nd at Telemark Resort in Cable. Nancy's love for books is contagious and we left the day with a different outlook and many ideas to take back to work and home with us. It is obvious to me why reader's can't get enough of her recommendations and why libraries and bookstores offer standing room only when she visits to speak and celebrate the written word. Nancy's philosophy on readers advisory based on four attractions (story; character; setting and language), forced me to look at readers advisory in a whole different light. It also made me realize why I enjoy certain books more than others.
Nancy Pearl has worked as a librarian and bookseller in Detroit, Tulsa and Seattle and is the former Executive Director of the Washington Center for the Book. She has written several books on recommended reading including "Book crush: for kids and teens" and "Book lust: recommended reading for every mood, moment and reason". She is a regular commentator about books on NPR's Morning Edition and NPR affiliate stations KUOW in Seattle and KWGS in Tulsa. To read her book reviews on the KUOW web site, visit: https://www.kuow.org/program.php?current=NP and to listen to her reviews visit: http://www.kuow.org/rss.php?program=nancy.
On Nancy Pearl's Book Lust Wiki - http://booklust.wetpaint.com/ - you'll find Nancy's own book reviews along with links to other blogs and websites devoted to books, reviews, and reading. You can also join the Book Lust Book Club and Reading Groups!
American Libraries Opens Access
From American Library Association - American Libraries, the flagship magazine of the American Library Association (ALA), celebrated the first Open Access Day, Oct. 14, by opening up its content on the Web and making its companion weekly e-newsletter, American Libraries Direct, available to anyone for the asking.
American Libraries’ searchable PDFs will be available at www.ala.org/alonline/ as the first step toward making all future features and columns available in HTML format in 2009. The current issue of the print magazine will be open to all, as will back issues through 2003; all formerly accessible only with a member log-in. The revamped AL website will link content to the AL online forum [hot link http://al.ala.org/forum/] where readers can express their opinions about professional issues, news and controversies.
American Libraries Direct provides library news aggregation of essential services provided by ALA and libraries across the country. To subscribe to AL Direct, visit the AL Direct sign-up page [http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/aldirect/aldirect.cfm]. American Libraries Direct Editor George Eberhart picked up first prize in 2007 in the “E-newsletter” category in the American Society of Business Publications Editors’ 29th annual awards competition.
Open Access Day [ www.openaccessday.org ] is sponsored by SPARC (the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition), the Public Library of Science (PLoS) and Students for Free Culture. Building on the worldwide momentum toward open access to publicly funded research, Open Access Day was established to create an opportunity for the higher education community and the general public to understand more clearly the opportunities of wider access to and use of content.
Library Internet Use Survey
The American Library Association (ALA) is encouraging all public libraries to participate in the 2008-2009 Public Library Funding & Technology Access online survey. The survey provides an important opportunity for libraries to share information on their computer and Internet resources and infrastructure, as well as funding, technology training and other public library roles as public access technology centers in their communities. The current year’s online survey, available at http://www.plinternetsurvey.org, will be available through Nov. 7.
The study, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and ALA, provides important information for policymakers, ALA and library advocates regarding public library Internet and public computing needs and issues. “Many state libraries use these data for peer comparison, budget requests, advocacy, testimony before legislative bodies and much more,” said Denise M. Davis, director, ALA Office for Research & Statistics. “We also used findings in Congressional testimony and media outreach just last month. A high survey response rate is critical for such uses to continue. I hope all public libraries will log on and help us create the most complete picture possible of technology in our nation’s public libraries. Our thanks also to all the libraries that already have completed the survey.”
More information, including results from last year’s study, is available online at http://www.ala.org/plinternetfunding. For any questions regarding the survey, please contact support@plinternetsurvey.org or (850) 645-2197.
Ancestry Library Edition: Information and Searching Tips
From Linda Bailen, NWLS - A subscription to Ancestry Library Edition is available to all patrons and libraries in the 8-county library system area in 2008, and will be available for 2009. Patrons and librarians can access the subscription at any NWLS library. Ancestry Library Edition is an online genealogy resource that contains over 4 billion names and over 4,000 complete databases. Links to Ancestry Library Edition and other resources can be found on the Northern Waters Library Service web page at: http://www.nwls.wislib.org/.
Some of the records you can access in this database are: census and voter lists; birth, marriage & death records; passenger lists; military registrations & service records; city directories; financial records; stories & publications; and photos & maps.
In Ancestry you will get more accurate results by limiting your search to a specific database. To see a list of all databases, go to the bottom of the Ancestry Library Edition home page and choose the "all databases" link. Then choose a specific database to search - or click on a category to bring up a search screen that will search that category only. To search Wisconsin databases only, click on the "Search" tab near the top of the screen. Then page down to browse by location.
On the search screen you can get more accurate results by choosing the "Exact matches only" box. When you are not sure of the spelling of a name, you can perform a "Soundex" search by choosing "Exact matches only", then choose "Soundex" from the drop-down menu next to the box under the heading "Spelling". The Soundex search will find names that sound similar to your entry.
Use Census records to identify the year of birth, birthplace, or to track events such as births or marriages. To search a census collection, go to the bottom of the page and choose the census year. You can also track events in the Social Security Birth, Marriage & Death Records. To search these record, click on the link "Birth, Marriage & Death Records (SSDI) near the bottom of the home page.
Once you have identified an ancestor's place of residence and an approximate date of death, you can identify an area newspaper and obtain a copy of the obituary by searching in BadgerLink - or ordering a copy of the obituary through interlibrary loan. If you have not identified an approximate date of death, newspaper microfilm may be available to borrow through interlibrary loan.
Ancestry forms are also available in Ancestry Library Edition. You can download an ancestral chart, a research calendar, a research extract, a family group sheet or others. You can also organize your information by creating an online family tree.
Ancestry Library Edition makes family research easy for beginners while still providing in-depth tools for more advanced genealogists. Visit a nearby NWLS area library and try it out!
7 Ways to Save @ Your Library
From Marsha Sorensen, NWLS - Using Wisconsin's public libraries is a great way for people to stretch their dollars. Libraries are an excellent resource for programs, subscription databases, and for borrowing materials. Inter-library loan services can find even the most obscure books, films and music. Libraries often go to great lengths to accomodate the needs of the community. Would you like a storytime for kids after 5pm? New books about home finance or budgeting? Just ask! A suggestion carries a lot of weight with library directors and boards. You can bank on library services that save you precious time and money:
1. Borrow it: Whether you're looking for a recent release or a rare item, your library can probably get it for you.
2. Join in the fun: Library programs for kids include storytimes, arts and crafts events, computer classes, movie nights, reading clubs, and summer reading programs.
3. Research it: Libraries offer current resources for home buying, estate planning and purchasing electronics and other big-ticket items.
4. Do it Yourself: Check out ways to learn it, build it, repair it and grow it... yourself!
5. Make new friends: Library events and book discussion groups are great ways to meet people.
6. Find a new job: Ask your librarian about resources for resume writing, computer training, job searching and interviewing.
7. Get the right answer: Libraries have access to quality resources that get you the answers you need!
Merlin Popular Holds
Thursday, October 16, 2008 - The following items are currently in high demand:
Holds/Copies
12/3 . . . . 88 minutes [videorecording (DVD)]
18/4 . . . . Against medical advice : a true story / James Patterson, Hal Friedman
34/10 . . . Baby mama [videorecording(DVD)]
11/1 . . . . Baitshop [videorecording (DVD)]
10/4 . . . . Bones : an Alex Delaware novel / Jonathan Kellerman
30/10 . . . The brass verdict / Michael Connelly
42/23 . . . Brisingr / Christopher Paolini
15/5 . . . . Can't take my eyes off of you / Judith McNaught
17/1 . . . . The chronicles of Narnia. Prince Caspian [videorecording(DVD)]
13/5 . . . . College road trip [videorecording(DVD)]
25/3 . . . . Cross country / by James Patterson
15/2 . . . . Crossroads / Belva Plain
15/5 . . . . Dark summer / Iris Johansen
11/8 . . . . Dewey : a small-town library cat who touched the world / Vicki Myron, with Bret Witter
10/3 . . . . Divine justice / David Baldacci
11/5 . . . . Fool's gold [videorecording(DVD)]
18/4 . . . . Forgetting Sarah Marshall [videorecording(DVD)]
16/6 . . . . A good woman / Danielle Steel
16/15 . . . The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society / Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
15/1 . . . . The happening [videorecording(DVD)]
62/16 . . . Heat lightning / John Sandford
18/14 . . . Hot mahogany / Stuart Woods
10/1 . . . . The Incredible Hulk [videorecording(DVD)]
37/4 . . . . Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull [videorecording(DVD)]
29/5 . . . . Iron man [videorecording(DVD)]
17/12 . . . The keepsake / Tess Gerritsen
15/1 . . . . Kung fu panda [videorecording(DVD)]
24/9 . . . . Leatherheads [videorecording(DVD)]
17/2 . . . . Lost. The complete fourth season [videorecording(DVD)]
10/2 . . . . The love guru [videorecording(DVD)]
33/14 . . . The lucky one / Nicholas Sparks
31/8 . . . . Made of honor [videorecording(DVD)]
12/1 . . . . Mamma mia! [videorecording(DVD)]
11/1 . . . . Now that's what I call music! 28 [sound recording(MusicCD)]
20/14 . . . Red Knife : a Cork O'Connor mystery / by William Kent Krueger
12/6 . . . . Rough weather / Robert B. Parker
11/1 . . . . The ruins [videorecording (DVD)]
13/3 . . . . Run for your life / by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge
19/2 . . . . Salvation in death / J.D. Robb
16/7 . . . . Sex and the city [videorecording(DVD)] : the movie
21/19 . . . The shack / by William P. Young
10/1 . . . . Shutter [videorecording (DVD)]
11/1 . . . . Stop-loss [videorecording(DVD)]
73/26 . . . The story of Edgar Sawtelle / David Wroblewski
16/8 . . . . Sunset / Karen Kingsbury
13/4 . . . . Then she found me [videorecording (DVD)]
18/1 . . . . Wall-E [videorecording(DVD)]
10/10 . . . The war within : a secret White House history, 2006-2008 / Bob Woodward
16/9 . . . . What happens in Vegas [videorecording(DVD)]
19/2 . . . . You don't mess with the Zohan [videorecording(DVD)]
T E C H N O L O G Y
StoryPlace: The children's digital library
StoryPlace is an interactive website providing children with the virtual experience of going to the library. In 1999 a team of Children's Librarians and Specialists developed StoryPlace with the same types of activities the library offers children in preschool and elementary school. Children can listen to interactive stories, play with on-line activities, print out take-home activities, and view lists of book reviews.
100 Free Library 2.0 Webinars and Tutorials
The Internet is full of webinars, presentations, and tutorials designed to help your library understand how to take advantage of library 2.0 technology. College@Home blog highlights some of the most useful Library 2.0 tutorials, from general overviews to learning specific tools that you can put to work in your library. College@Home also provides links for the following Web 2.0 resources:
- 100 Helpful Web Tools for Every Kind of Learner
- 100 Useful Niche Search Engines You’ve Never Heard Of
- 100+ Job Resources for Librarians
- 50 Cool Things You Can Do with Google Charts API
- 50 Useful iPhone Tips for Librarians and Researchers
- 57 Useful Google Tools You’ve Never Heard Of
- Learn Anything: 100 Places to Find Free Webinars and Tutorials
- Paperless World: 50 Tips and Tools for Reading On Your iPod
U S E F U L . U R Ls
Privacy and Confidentiality of Library Records
The following are among the many resources provided by The Amerlican Library Association on the subject of protecting library patron privacy:
"Position Statement on the Confidentiality of Library Records"
"Privacy: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights"
"Role of Librarians in Protecting Patron Privacy"
"Privacy and Confidentiality"
"Privacy Resources for Librarians, Library Users, and Families"
R E F L E C T I O N
Once I spoke the language of the flowers,
Once I understood each word the caterpillar said,
Once I smiled in secret at the gossip of the starlings,
And shared a conversation with the housefly
in my bed.
Once I heard and answered all the questions
of the crickets,
And joined the crying of each falling dying
flake of snow,
Once I spoke the language of the flowers. . . .
How did it go?
How did it go?
- Forgotten Language by Shel Silverstein
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.
