Streams

• April 14 Wisconsin Oral History Day, Madison, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

May 8 Effective Weeding and Inventory, Eagle River, 10:00 - 2:30

May 9 Effective Weeding and Inventory, Drummond, 10:00 - 2:30

From Jane Frankiewicz, Spooner Memorial Library - I would like to express my gratitude to NWLS and to the Spooner Library Board of Trustees for their sponsorship and the opportunity to experience the recent annual Public Library Association conference (PLA) in Minneapolis. PLA was a wonderful opportunity to listen and learn from our country’s leading libraries as well as to meet librarians from different states. We were able to compare what our libraries are currently working on and/or struggling with. It appears that there are truly some universal aspects of working in a library such as rowdy teens and shortage of space and funds.

Overall the mood of PLA was very optimistic. There was an earnest interest in how librarians can improve their facility, their collections, their staff and customer satisfaction. One particular workshop, “Why we borrow! Redesigning Libraries by Learning from Successful Retail Practices” addressed all of these issues. The research/consulting company Envirosell revealed ways to improve service from studies of customer traffic patterns. The project manager encourages librarians to get out from behind the desk and walk the floor. The researchers were astounded at how busy the libraries they studied were and noted that if we were retail, we’d be at the top of the food chain!

Another interesting session that tapped into this same theme was “How Branding Can Increase the Relevance of Your Library” by James Keller, Director of Marketing & Communications for Queens Library New York. Keller is a former Wall Street marketing executive, famous for his slogans. Keller presented an amazing promotional video of the life-long library experiences of six individuals. Keller also shared some common sense advice for making libraries more welcoming and less cluttered. “Lose the paper!” he advised, especially the wordy posters and flyers. Keller suggests keeping the message simple and the delivery efficient by using a rack to display postcard sized flyers.

Of all the presentations I attended the one that had the largest impact on me was the Opening General Session featuring philanthropist John Wood, founder of the nonprofit organization Room to Read. Woods, a former top Microsoft executive, left the corporate world and formed a global team to work with rural villages in Nepal, Southeast Asia and Africa to create both schools and libraries. His courage to pursue a vision to provide educational access for 10 million children in the developing world left me in awe. Had I been 21, I’d have slipped on my earth boots, grabbed my backpack and followed him out the door, yelling “Mr. Woods! Mr. Woods! Send me to Nepal!” I bought his autobiography, looked over his website and wondered if I dared show this to my daughter, who, at 22, has both a backpack and a passport and knows how to use them. Maybe when I retire, we can both go save the world together.

New Technology Kits

From Michael Sheehan, NWLS - Stef Morrill, of South Central Library System (SCLS), has come up with a radical idea on how librarians can deal with the new technological gadgets that patrons are introducing to public libraries. Stef proposed a gadget and training package that would be purchased with funds from Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC). WPLC unanimously approved of this project and allowed for two training packages to be purchased and rotated to libraries in Wisconsin. The two commonly recognized projects that the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC) have maintained in the past are the netLibrary e-books and the OverDrive downloadable audiobook/video/music collections.

The two identical technology packages will include the following devices:
• a Palm TX personal digital assistant
• an iPod Touch 8G (with charger)
• an iPod Nano 4G (with charger)
• a Creative Muvo V100 (MP3 player)
• a Creative Zen Vision (video MP3 player)
• a GPS (Global Positioning System) – Garmin eTrex H compact hand held
• a Cannon PowerShot SD750 digital camera
• a Flip Video camera
• a SanDisk 12 in 1 card reader/writer
• a Playstation Portable (with a movie and a game)
• four memory cards
• a USB flash drive
• a demonstration Amazon Kindle+books

At this time, SCLS staff are in the process of purchasing and preparing the gadgets for use. The month of May will be devoted to developing and sharing the training materials, developing guidelines for resetting equipment after use and replacing malfunctioning devices, testing the instructions and devices, and scheduling the deliveries. Library systems are required to commit to the project by learning the gadgets, preparing/revising SCLS training materials, conducting the system area trainings, and following the scheduled rotation.

While the idea of gadget training is not new to Northern Waters Library Service librarians (Tony Kriskovich has offered a gadget workshop as recently as November 2006), a statewide program of this kind is unique. If all goes as planned, the trainings will enable librarians to cope with being a resource on emerging technological devices that patrons are adapting for library services.

From Michael Sheehan, NWLS - On March 7, 2008, Bob Bocher, of the Division for Libraries, Technology and Community Learning, presented a workshop on Privacy in the Internet Age. Bob discussed how privacy of our Personally Identifiable Information (or PII) is at risk, but there are means in which state, federal, and library actions protect us. People can also keep antivirus and anti-spyware programs updated on their home computers to protect them at their personal residences.

State protections are found through the Office of Privacy Protection (created by Governor Doyle), as well as recent laws attributed to privacy. These laws include Act 261, prohibiting the sale or sharing of phone records, and Act 138, where institutions must notify people if their PII is lost or illegally accessed. Federal privacy protections lead by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are found in the 4th and 5th amendments to the constitution, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). There are no federal acts specifically protecting library patron privacy. Bob also reported on known activities dealing with the National Security administration’s warrantless wiretaps, usage of National Security Letter (NSLs), and the PATRIOT Act.

Public library privacy protections are covered through Wisconsin State Statutes 43.30. The statutes cover information identifying a library user (with the exception of a child) and the use of library materials and other resources and services. The exceptions to the law include a court order issuance, anyone authorized by the patron, staff acting within their duties, and law enforcement requests for surveillance tapes (per Act 34). Release of patron PII to a collection agency or police agencies not falling within the above exceptions is considered illegal. Bob stressed the importance of libraries performing a privacy audit and the need to educate others on the law. A sample policy on privacy of library records and library use is available at http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/provacy.html

Lastly, Bob spoke on Internet neutrality, which by definition, is accessing any content or using any service or application without the need of a network configuration, policy or practice, outside of end-user or library control, that discriminates against certain content, services or applications. Under the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations, telecommunication service is regulated, but information service (Internet) is not. Neutrality is supported by consumer organizations, 1st Amendment supporters, content providers, and the education and library community. Neutrality opposition tends to come from the television and cable companies, Internet service providers, and organizations that oppose government regulation. Since libraries provide Internet access, have content, do not have large budgets, and are concerned with equity of access and 1st Amendment issues, Internet neutrality becomes a critical discussion point. Internet neutrality issues may be impacted in the near future by the results of the 2008 election, passage of the Internet Freedom Preservation Act, the upcoming move from analog to digital television services, and the position of content providers.

An important resource on all of these issues is the book, Privacy in the 21st Century. It is recommended reading for any librarian wishing to know more about information privacy and the laws affecting privacy in their institutions.

From Channel Weekly, March 13, 2008 - Results of a study titled "InterConnections: A National Study of Users and Potential Users of Online Information" offers insight into the ways information is gathered in the online age, and its impact on public libraries and museums. The InterConnections report provides evidence that public libraries and museums are thriving in the Internet Age as trusted providers of information to people of all ages:

• Libraries and museums are the most trusted sources of online information among adults of all ages, education levels, races, and ethnicities. Libraries and museums rank higher in trustworthiness than all other information sources including government, commercial, and private Web sites. The study shows that the public trust of museums and libraries migrates to the online environment.
• The explosive growth of information available in the "Information Age" actually whets Americans' appetite for more information. People search for information in many places and since the use of one source leads to others, museums, public libraries, and the Internet complement each other in this information-rich environment.
• The Internet is not replacing in-person visits to libraries and museums and may actually increase onsite use of libraries and museums. There is a positive relationship between Internet use and in-person visits to museums and public libraries.

2. Alexander, Elizabeth and Marilyn Nelson. Miss Crandall’s School for Young Ladies and Little Misses of Color.

3. Bausum, Ann. Muckrakers: How Ida Tarbell, Upton Sinclair, and Lincoln Steffens Helped Expose Scandal, Inspire Reform, and Invent Investigative Journalism.

6. Burns, Loree Griffin. Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion.

9. Engle, Margarita. The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano.

13. Holm, Jennifer. Middle School Is Worse Than Meatloaf: A Year Told through Stuff.

17. Schlitz, Laura Amy. Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village.

From Marsha Sorensen, NWLS - Expensive photo editing applications have free open source and online alternatives. Open source software (OSS) is one of the Internet’s great success stories. The Internet makes it easy for teams of volunteer programmers to build and maintain the free software and hundreds more will use and test it, make suggestions, and create add-ons (usually called "plug-ins") to improve it. Open source tools often accompany user forums and tutorial support. Watch for frequent new applications and releases. The following is a sample of applications available:

Photoshop Express (Adobe Systems) Features 17 filters intended for tuning and effects that can be simply applied or removed. Provides an online storage and photo sharing service with embedding and slideshow functionality. Up to 2GB of photos can be uploaded and arranged in a collection that can be made available to others or kept private. http://www.photoshop.com/express

Picnik Fast and easy access to powerful photo editing tools from any computer platform on any Internet browser. Picnik is very user friendly. Choose from one-click editing options or advanced controls to fine-tune your results. Features include a variety of special effects, fonts and shapes. Compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux. No download required, nothing to install. http://www.picnik.com/

FotoFlexer FotoFlexer is an advanced Web-based image editing solution, providing the power and functionality of desktop photo editing software. Features include Smart Cutout and Recolor effects, and unlimited layers that can be moved or merge by simply right-clicking. http://fotoflexer.com/

Paint.net Photo manipulation software for Windows 2000, XP, Vista, or Server 2003 Featuring layers, painting and drawing tools, special effects, unlimited undo history, and levels adjustments. http://www.getpaint.net/

GIMP This image editor has an interface and features similar to Photoshop. Favorite features include powerful painting tools, layers, and support for the most important file formats. It can open Adobe PDFs and has built-in plug-ins for generating buttons and banners. http://www.gimp.org/

OneLook Reverse Dictionary
Describe a concept and get back a list of words and phrases related to that concept. OneLook's reverse dictionary indexes hundreds of online dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other reference sites for words that have definitions conceptually similar to the words you search for.
URL: http://www.onelook.com/reverse-dictionary.shtml

Dictionarist
Dictionarist.com is a free online multilingual and talking dictionary service which can provide 60 options for translation in English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Italian, Russian, Turkish, Dutch, Greek, Chinese, Japanese and Korean. Dictionarist pronounces the words in all these dictionaries and provides a dictionary index for browsing words and phrases.
URL: http://www.dictionarist.com/

"Public libraries have been a mainstay of my life. They represent an individual's right to acquire knowledge; they are the sinews that bind civilized societies the world over. Without libraries, I would be a pauper, intellectually and spiritually."

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, Burett, Douglas, Iron, Sawyer, Vilas and Washburn Counties.

	Northern Waters Library Service

	In This Issue: 04.04.08 PLA Conference Report • New Technology Kits • Patron Privacy in the Internet Age Workshop • Survey Reinforces the Value of Libraries • 2008 Notable Children's Books for Older Readers • Alternatives To Expensive Photo Editing Applications • Useful URLs • Reflection C A L E N D A R April 5 Library Trustee Basics, Phelps Public Library, 10:00 - 2:30 April 10 Effective Library Marketing and Advocacy, NWLS, 10:00 - 2:30 April 19 Library Trustee Basics, Spooner Memorial Library, 10:00 - 2:30 April 13-19 National Library Week April 30-May 2 The Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries Annual Conference, Stevens Point UW-Madison SLIS Continuing Education Courses in Madison. Visit the School of Library and Information Studies for more information. • April 14* Wisconsin Oral History Day, Madison, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.* May 8 Effective Weeding and Inventory, Eagle River, 10:00 - 2:30 May 9 Effective Weeding and Inventory, Drummond, 10:00 - 2:30 Page up C U R R E N T . E V E N T S PLA Conference Report From Jane Frankiewicz, Spooner Memorial Library - I would like to express my gratitude to NWLS and to the Spooner Library Board of Trustees for their sponsorship and the opportunity to experience the recent annual Public Library Association conference (PLA) in Minneapolis. PLA was a wonderful opportunity to listen and learn from our country’s leading libraries as well as to meet librarians from different states. We were able to compare what our libraries are currently working on and/or struggling with. It appears that there are truly some universal aspects of working in a library such as rowdy teens and shortage of space and funds. Overall the mood of PLA was very optimistic. There was an earnest interest in how librarians can improve their facility, their collections, their staff and customer satisfaction. One particular workshop, “Why we borrow! Redesigning Libraries by Learning from Successful Retail Practices” addressed all of these issues. The research/consulting company Envirosell revealed ways to improve service from studies of customer traffic patterns. The project manager encourages librarians to get out from behind the desk and walk the floor. The researchers were astounded at how busy the libraries they studied were and noted that if we were retail, we’d be at the top of the food chain! Another interesting session that tapped into this same theme was “How Branding Can Increase the Relevance of Your Library” by James Keller, Director of Marketing & Communications for Queens Library New York. Keller is a former Wall Street marketing executive, famous for his slogans. Keller presented an amazing promotional video of the life-long library experiences of six individuals. Keller also shared some common sense advice for making libraries more welcoming and less cluttered. “Lose the paper!” he advised, especially the wordy posters and flyers. Keller suggests keeping the message simple and the delivery efficient by using a rack to display postcard sized flyers. Of all the presentations I attended the one that had the largest impact on me was the Opening General Session featuring philanthropist John Wood, founder of the nonprofit organization Room to Read. Woods, a former top Microsoft executive, left the corporate world and formed a global team to work with rural villages in Nepal, Southeast Asia and Africa to create both schools and libraries. His courage to pursue a vision to provide educational access for 10 million children in the developing world left me in awe. Had I been 21, I’d have slipped on my earth boots, grabbed my backpack and followed him out the door, yelling “Mr. Woods! Mr. Woods! Send me to Nepal!” I bought his autobiography, looked over his website and wondered if I dared show this to my daughter, who, at 22, has both a backpack and a passport and knows how to use them. Maybe when I retire, we can both go save the world together. Conference links: • handouts from PLA National Conference programs. • purchase audio recordings of select PLA 2008 programs. • Public Library Association 12th National Conference draws thousands to Minneapolis. Page up New Technology Kits From Michael Sheehan, NWLS - Stef Morrill, of South Central Library System (SCLS), has come up with a radical idea on how librarians can deal with the new technological gadgets that patrons are introducing to public libraries. Stef proposed a gadget and training package that would be purchased with funds from Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC). WPLC unanimously approved of this project and allowed for two training packages to be purchased and rotated to libraries in Wisconsin. The two commonly recognized projects that the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC) have maintained in the past are the netLibrary e-books and the OverDrive downloadable audiobook/video/music collections. The two identical technology packages will include the following devices: • a Palm TX personal digital assistant • an iPod Touch 8G (with charger) • an iPod Nano 4G (with charger) • a Creative Muvo V100 (MP3 player) • a Creative Zen Vision (video MP3 player) • a GPS (Global Positioning System) – Garmin eTrex H compact hand held • a Cannon PowerShot SD750 digital camera • a Flip Video camera • a SanDisk 12 in 1 card reader/writer • a Playstation Portable (with a movie and a game) • four memory cards • a USB flash drive • a demonstration Amazon Kindle+books At this time, SCLS staff are in the process of purchasing and preparing the gadgets for use. The month of May will be devoted to developing and sharing the training materials, developing guidelines for resetting equipment after use and replacing malfunctioning devices, testing the instructions and devices, and scheduling the deliveries. Library systems are required to commit to the project by learning the gadgets, preparing/revising SCLS training materials, conducting the system area trainings, and following the scheduled rotation. While the idea of gadget training is not new to Northern Waters Library Service librarians (Tony Kriskovich has offered a gadget workshop as recently as November 2006), a statewide program of this kind is unique. If all goes as planned, the trainings will enable librarians to cope with being a resource on emerging technological devices that patrons are adapting for library services. Page up Patron Privacy in the Internet Age Workshop From Michael Sheehan, NWLS - On March 7, 2008, Bob Bocher, of the Division for Libraries, Technology and Community Learning, presented a workshop on Privacy in the Internet Age. Bob discussed how privacy of our Personally Identifiable Information (or PII) is at risk, but there are means in which state, federal, and library actions protect us. People can also keep antivirus and anti-spyware programs updated on their home computers to protect them at their personal residences. State protections are found through the Office of Privacy Protection (created by Governor Doyle), as well as recent laws attributed to privacy. These laws include Act 261, prohibiting the sale or sharing of phone records, and Act 138, where institutions must notify people if their PII is lost or illegally accessed. Federal privacy protections lead by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are found in the 4th and 5th amendments to the constitution, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). There are no federal acts specifically protecting library patron privacy. Bob also reported on known activities dealing with the National Security administration’s warrantless wiretaps, usage of National Security Letter (NSLs), and the PATRIOT Act. Public library privacy protections are covered through Wisconsin State Statutes 43.30. The statutes cover information identifying a library user (with the exception of a child) and the use of library materials and other resources and services. The exceptions to the law include a court order issuance, anyone authorized by the patron, staff acting within their duties, and law enforcement requests for surveillance tapes (per Act 34). Release of patron PII to a collection agency or police agencies not falling within the above exceptions is considered illegal. Bob stressed the importance of libraries performing a privacy audit and the need to educate others on the law. A sample policy on privacy of library records and library use is available at http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/provacy.html Lastly, Bob spoke on Internet neutrality, which by definition, is accessing any content or using any service or application without the need of a network configuration, policy or practice, outside of end-user or library control, that discriminates against certain content, services or applications. Under the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations, telecommunication service is regulated, but information service (Internet) is not. Neutrality is supported by consumer organizations, 1st Amendment supporters, content providers, and the education and library community. Neutrality opposition tends to come from the television and cable companies, Internet service providers, and organizations that oppose government regulation. Since libraries provide Internet access, have content, do not have large budgets, and are concerned with equity of access and 1st Amendment issues, Internet neutrality becomes a critical discussion point. Internet neutrality issues may be impacted in the near future by the results of the 2008 election, passage of the Internet Freedom Preservation Act, the upcoming move from analog to digital television services, and the position of content providers. An important resource on all of these issues is the book, Privacy in the 21st Century. It is recommended reading for any librarian wishing to know more about information privacy and the laws affecting privacy in their institutions. Page up Survey Reinforces the Value of Libraries From Channel Weekly, March 13, 2008 - Results of a study titled "InterConnections: A National Study of Users and Potential Users of Online Information" offers insight into the ways information is gathered in the online age, and its impact on public libraries and museums. The InterConnections report provides evidence that public libraries and museums are thriving in the Internet Age as trusted providers of information to people of all ages: • Libraries and museums are the most trusted sources of online information among adults of all ages, education levels, races, and ethnicities. Libraries and museums rank higher in trustworthiness than all other information sources including government, commercial, and private Web sites. The study shows that the public trust of museums and libraries migrates to the online environment. • The explosive growth of information available in the "Information Age" actually whets Americans' appetite for more information. People search for information in many places and since the use of one source leads to others, museums, public libraries, and the Internet complement each other in this information-rich environment. • The Internet is not replacing in-person visits to libraries and museums and may actually increase onsite use of libraries and museums. There is a positive relationship between Internet use and in-person visits to museums and public libraries. To view the report, please visit http://interconnectionsreport.org. Page up 2008 Notable Children's Books for Older Readers From The American Library Association 1. Alexander, Lloyd. The Golden Dream of Carlo Chuchio. 2. Alexander, Elizabeth and Marilyn Nelson. Miss Crandall’s School for Young Ladies and Little Misses of Color. 3. Bausum, Ann. Muckrakers: How Ida Tarbell, Upton Sinclair, and Lincoln Steffens Helped Expose Scandal, Inspire Reform, and Invent Investigative Journalism. 4. Barakat, Ibtisam. Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood. 5. Bernier-Grand, Carmen T. Frida: ¡Viva la vida! Long Live Life! 6. Burns, Loree Griffin. Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion. 7. Compestine, Ying Chang. Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party. 8. Curtis, Christopher Paul. Elijah of Buxton. 9. Engle, Margarita. The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano. 10. Freedman, Russell. Who Was First? Discovering the Americas. 11. Gore, Al. An Inconvenient Truth: The Crisis of Global Warming. 12. Grandits, John. Blue Lipstick: Concrete Poems. 13. Holm, Jennifer. Middle School Is Worse Than Meatloaf: A Year Told through Stuff. 14. Krull, Kathleen. Marie Curie: Giants of Science. 15. Miyabe, Miyuki. Brave Story. 16. Neri. G. Chess Rumble. 17. Schlitz, Laura Amy. Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village. 18. Schmidt, Gary. The Wednesday Wars. 19. Sís, Peter. The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain. 20. Tan, Shaun. The Arrival. 21. Thompson, Kate. The New Policeman. 22. Wells, Rosemary. Red Moon at Sharpsburg. 23. Williams, Marcia. Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. 24. Woodson, Jacqueline. Feathers. 25. Wynne-Jones, Tim. Rex Zero and the End of the World. Page up T E C H N O L O G Y Alternatives To Expensive Photo Editing Applications From Marsha Sorensen, NWLS - Expensive photo editing applications have free open source and online alternatives. Open source software (OSS) is one of the Internet’s great success stories. The Internet makes it easy for teams of volunteer programmers to build and maintain the free software and hundreds more will use and test it, make suggestions, and create add-ons (usually called "plug-ins") to improve it. Open source tools often accompany user forums and tutorial support. Watch for frequent new applications and releases. The following is a sample of applications available: Photoshop Express (Adobe Systems) Features 17 filters intended for tuning and effects that can be simply applied or removed. Provides an online storage and photo sharing service with embedding and slideshow functionality. Up to 2GB of photos can be uploaded and arranged in a collection that can be made available to others or kept private. http://www.photoshop.com/express Picnik Fast and easy access to powerful photo editing tools from any computer platform on any Internet browser. Picnik is very user friendly. Choose from one-click editing options or advanced controls to fine-tune your results. Features include a variety of special effects, fonts and shapes. Compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux. No download required, nothing to install. http://www.picnik.com/ FotoFlexer FotoFlexer is an advanced Web-based image editing solution, providing the power and functionality of desktop photo editing software. Features include Smart Cutout and Recolor effects, and unlimited layers that can be moved or merge by simply right-clicking. http://fotoflexer.com/ Paint.net Photo manipulation software for Windows 2000, XP, Vista, or Server 2003 Featuring layers, painting and drawing tools, special effects, unlimited undo history, and levels adjustments. http://www.getpaint.net/ GIMP This image editor has an interface and features similar to Photoshop. Favorite features include powerful painting tools, layers, and support for the most important file formats. It can open Adobe PDFs and has built-in plug-ins for generating buttons and banners. http://www.gimp.org/ Page up U S E F U L . U R Ls OneLook Reverse Dictionary Describe a concept and get back a list of words and phrases related to that concept. OneLook's reverse dictionary indexes hundreds of online dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other reference sites for words that have definitions conceptually similar to the words you search for. URL: http://www.onelook.com/reverse-dictionary.shtml Dictionarist Dictionarist.com is a free online multilingual and talking dictionary service which can provide 60 options for translation in English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Italian, Russian, Turkish, Dutch, Greek, Chinese, Japanese and Korean. Dictionarist pronounces the words in all these dictionaries and provides a dictionary index for browsing words and phrases. URL: http://www.dictionarist.com/ Page up R E F L E C T I O N "Public libraries have been a mainstay of my life. They represent an individual's right to acquire knowledge; they are the sinews that bind civilized societies the world over. Without libraries, I would be a pauper, intellectually and spiritually." - Author James A. Michener 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, Burett, Douglas, Iron, Sawyer, Vilas and Washburn Counties.