In This Issue: 09.05.08

Library 2.0 Workshop • Growing Library Internet Use • Children's Book Conference • Northwoods Library Conference • Best Small Library in America Award • Library Card Sign-up Month • Merlin High-Demand Holds • Library Blogs • Useful URLs • Reflection

September 20 NWLS Board of Trustees Meeting, NWLS, 10:00
September 22 Using Statistics to Protect Your Library from the Budget Knife, NWLS, 10:00 – 2:30
October 2 Sharing Your Love of Great Books, Telemark Lodge, Cable, 10:00 – 3:00
October 2-3 Northwest Children’s Book Conference, Telemark Resort, Cable
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

UW-Madison SLIS Continuing Education:

• Readers' Advisory in the Library, September 8 - November 28
• Genealogy Library Services, September 8 - October 3
• Collection Development, September 17 - December 10
• Basic Public Library Management, September 22 - December 12
• Library 2.0: 101, September 29 - October 26
• Back in Circulation Again: A circulation services conference, September 26-27

Library 2.0 Workshop

Tasha Saecker, Director of Menasha Public Library, offered a look at how Web 2.0 theory has been adopted in the library world. Library 2.0 is about connecting people, technology, and information, and involves a shift in attitude and thinking. The formula for Library 2.0 shifts the focus from library needs to user needs. Tailoring Library 2.0 to the local community can be accomplished by involving focus groups in updating policies and long range planning, by providing services such as proctoring and notory, and by taking advantage of Web tools to effectively gather and share information.

Tasha's own involvement with Library 2.0 started over five years ago with blogs, which are interactive web pages. KidsLit is her blog of children's literature reviews searchable by a dozen different categories including Story Times, Chapter Books, and Picture Books. Sites and Soundbytes is a blog Tasha has for news about libraries, books, and technology. She also has a director's blog on the Menash Public Library website and encourages her staff to take advantage of blogging as a way to collaborate with the public. Windows Live Writer enables her to easily publish pictures, videos, and other content to her blogs. Blogs enable Tasha to network online through a variety of sophisticated networking tools.

Tasha devoted the afternoon session to some great web resources for librarians. Tasha uses WorldCat, Goodreads, and LibraryThing for reviews and recommendations. The WorldCat "my list" feature will link to WorldCat records and can be shared or exported. WorldCat is also a good source for book images. Tasha finds AV images in LibraryThing, which is also a great resource for cataloging and for book groups. Book groups can also use Goodreads to keep lists and find book recommendations.

There are many social software resources librarians can use to network with staff, community and colleagues. Twitter can be used to update a select group of people with a short message. Friendfeed is a platform for sharing web pages, photos, music and videos. Google Docs allows staff to share and edit documents online. Instant Messaging is a useful reference tool.

Library 2.0 takes advantage of a large variety of free Web 2.0 tools available for effectively organizing and networking library information. Tasha recommends Firefox add-ons for using Delicious - manages bookmarks, Morning Coffee - opens mutiple sites simultaneously, Screengrab - saves a webpage as an image, StumbleUpon - finds sites based on your interests, RSS feeds - shows email or web site updates, and to search in one or more catalogs and databases. The best way to investigate Library 2.0 is to test drive the different tools. Project Play is a free, online, self-discovery program that encourages the exploration of Web 2.0 tools and new technologies.

Growing Library Internet Use

This week the American Library Association's (ALA) Office for Research and Statistics and Florida State University published "Libraries Connect Communities: Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study 2007-2008." The final report is available online: http://www.ala.org/ala/ors/plftas/0708report.cfm. Individual state summaries are also available: http://www.ala.org/ala/ors/plftas/0708/state0708.cfm. Some key findings from the report:

• Libraries reported double-digit growth in online services: Audiobooks and podcasts (up 33 percent), video (up 32 percent), homework resources (up 15 percent), e-books (up 13.5 percent), and digitized special collections (up almost 13 percent)
• 66 percent of public libraries offer free wireless access, up 12 percent over last year
• 26 percent report adequate connection speed
• 73 percent of libraries (83 percent of rural libraries) are the only source of free public access to computers and the Internet in their communities
• 73.4 percent of libraries provide technology training to library patrons

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Children's Book Conference

Telemark Educational Foundation, Inc. in partnership with Redbery Books have planned another outstanding Children's Book Conference. Nancy Pearl and several other talented presenters will offer new ways to stimulate young readers. Pearl is a winner of the Women’s National Book Association Award for her extraordinary contribution to the world of books.

Program Schedule: http://telemarkeducation.com/downloads/2008NWCBCPrgm.pdf
When: October 2 - 3, 2008
Where: Telemark Resort & Convention Center, Cable, WI.

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Northwoods Library Conference

Library Friends, Supporters and Volunteers are invited to the 3rd Northwoods Conference: “Working With and In Your Community.” Share successes and ideas in an interactive workshop that provides a unique learning experience and opportunity to connect with others:

• Do you have some ideas on how your Library Friends group can better relate to your community?
• Have you had success in recruiting new Friends members?
• Do you know the secret to revitalizing your area Friends group?
• How does your Friends group do fundraising?

What: The 3rd Northwoods Conference for Library Friends, Supporters & Volunteers
When: Saturday, October 11, 2008, 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Where: The Rothschild Village Hall Community Room (handicap accessible facility with plenty of free parking).
Who: Sponsored by the Friends of the Marathon County Public Library, the staff of the Wisconsin Valley Library Service, and with the support of the Wisconsin Library Trustees and Friends.
Cost: $10.00. This fee includes handouts, beverages, snacks, and a box lunch.
Registration: Mail $10.00 (made out to the WISCONSIN VALLEY LIBRARY SERVICE) to Inese Christman, Wisconsin Valley Library Service; 300 N. First Street; Wausau, WI 54403. Include your name, library, email and phone number. If you have questions or comments or need special accommodations to attend this conference, please contact Inese Christman at 715-261-7256.
Deadline: September 30

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Best Small Library in America Award

From Library Journal, 8/18/2008 - Library Journal's annual award for the Best Small Library in America, cosponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was founded to honor the public library that most profoundly demonstrates outstanding service to populations of 25,000 or less. The winning library will receive a $15,000 cash award, a feature story in the February 1, 2009, Library Journal, membership and conference costs for two library representatives to attend the Public Library Association Biannual Conference in 2010 in Portland, OR, and a gala reception at the conference.

Nominations will be judged based on key factors, including:
• Creativity in developing services and programs that can be replicated by other libraries, including outreach to special populations
• Innovation in introducing and supporting public access computing
• Success in educating patrons in computer use, and measuring the results of technology usage
• Use of technology to expand the reach of library services
• Demonstrated community support
• Sustained cooperation with other libraries
• Partnerships with other agencies and businesses
• Increase in library use, particularly by new users
• Evidence of library's role as community center

Postmark deadline for nominations is November 3, 2008. More information is at http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA606273.html.

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Library Card Sign-up Month

The American Library Association (ALA) and libraries throughout the country will celebrate Library Card Sign-up Month during September. Libraries across the country will remind parents that a library card is the most important school supply of all. Libraries play an important role in the education and development of children. Studies show that children who are read to in the home and who use the library perform better in school and are more likely to continue to use the library as a source of lifetime learning.

For more information, visit http://ilovelibraries.org/librarycard/. Librarians can obtain tools to promote Library Card Sign-up Month by going to www.ala.org/librarycardsignup.

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10/5 . . . . 8 Sandpiper Way / Debbie Macomber
22/9 . . . . 21 [videorecording(DVD)]
14/7 . . . . 10,000 B.C. [videorecording(DVD)]
11/3 . . . . Against medical advice : a true story / James Patterson, Hal Friedman
21/1 . . . . Baby mama [videorecording(DVD)]
11/3 . . . . The bank job [videorecording(DVD)]
15/3 . . . . Be kind rewind [videorecording(DVD)]
32/25 . . . Breaking Dawn / Stephenie Meyer
37/5 . . . . Brisingr / Christopher Paolini
10/4 . . . . Brisingr [sound recording(BookCD)] / Christopher Paolini
16/18 . . . The bucket list [videorecording(DVD)]
12/6 . . . . Can't take my eyes off of you / Judith McNaught
24/3 . . . . College road trip [videorecording(DVD)]
13/2 . . . . Cross country / by James Patterson
16/7 . . . . Crossroads / Belva Plain
20/6 . . . . Definitely, maybe [videorecording(DVD)]
12/1 . . . . Die Falscher [videorecording(DVD)] = The counterfeiters
106/41 . . Fearless fourteen : a Stephanie Plum novel / Janet Evanovich
24/5 . . . . Fearless fourteen [large print] / Janet Evanovich
18/10 . . . Fearless fourteen [sound recording(BookCD)] / Janet Evanovich
25/4 . . . . Fool's gold [videorecording(DVD)]
10/1 . . . . Forgetting Sarah Marshall [videorecording(DVD)]
10/7 . . . . The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society / Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
14/4 . . . . Heat lightning / John Sandford
17/5 . . . . Hot mahogany / Stuart Woods
15/4 . . . . The keepsake / Tess Gerritsen
11/9 . . . . Lace reader / Brunonia Barry
14/2 . . . . Leatherheads [videorecording(DVD)]
14/2 . . . . Lost. The complete fourth season [videorecording(DVD)]
12/2 . . . . Made of honor [videorecording(DVD)]
29/6 . . . . Miss Pettigrew lives for a day [videorecording(DVD)]
24/12 . . . Nim's Island [videorecording (DVD)]
13/1 . . . . Now that's what I call music! 28 [sound recording(MusicCD)]
10/2 . . . . Over her dead body [videorecording(DVD)]
18/8 . . . . Penelope [videorecording (DVD)]
12/6 . . . . Red Knife : a Cork O'Connor mystery / by William Kent Krueger
15/1 . . . . The ruins [videorecording (DVD)]
49/28 . . . Sail / James Patterson and Howard Roughan
10/2 . . . . Salvation in death / J.D. Robb
14/5 . . . . Semi-pro [videorecording(DVD)]
35/34 . . . The shack / by William P. Young
15/1 . . . . Shutter [videorecording (DVD)]
15/4 . . . . Smart people [videorecording(DVD)]
16/19 . . . Smoke screen / Sandra Brown
13/3 . . . . Step up. 2, The streets [videorecording (DVD)]
13/8 . . . . Stolen innocence / Elissa Wall with Lisa Pulitzer
11/1 . . . . Stop-loss [videorecording(DVD)]
11/2 . . . . sTORI telling / Tori Spelling with Hilary Liftin
46/25 . . . The story of Edgar Sawtelle / David Wroblewski
16/3 . . . . Sunset / Karen Kingsbury
12/21 . . . TailSpin / Catherine Coulter
27/24 . . . Tribute / Nora Roberts
11/4 . . . . Untraceable [videorecording(DVD)]
18/7 . . . . Vantage point [videorecording(DVD)]
11/3 . . . . The way of the world : a story of truth and hope in an age of extremism / Ron Suskind
27/3 . . . . What happens in Vegas [videorecording(DVD)]
15/1 . . . . You don't mess with the Zohan [videorecording(DVD)]

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Library Blogs

From Tasha Saecker, Director of Menasha Public Library - The following are among a list of blogs provided at the Library 2.0 workshop:

• ALA TechSource Blog: http://www.alatechsource.org/blog
• Blyberg.net: http://www.blyberg.net/
• David Lee King: http://www.davidleeking.com/
• Free Range Librarian: http://www.freerangelibrarian.com/
• H20 Library Blog: http://www.waterborolibrary.org.blog.htm
• Information Wants to Be Free: http://www.meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/index.php
• Librarian in Black: http://www.librarianinblack.typepad.com/librarianinblack/
• Library Clips: http://www.libraryclips.blogsome.com/
• Library Garden: http://www.librarygarden.blogspot.com/
• Library Link of the Day: http://www.tk421.net/librarylink/
• LISNews: http://www.lisnews.org/
• Pop Goes the Library: http://www.popgoesthelibrary.com/
• The Shifted Librarian: http://www.theshiftedlibraria

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Benefits Calculator

The Social Security Administration provides a Retirement Estimator for Social Security benefits that can factor in different alternatives for retirement ages and estimates of upcoming earnings.
URL: http://ssa.gov/estimator/

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We cannot live for ourselves alone. Our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads, and along these sympathetic fibers, our actions run as causes and return to us as results.

- Herman Melville

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.