April 2009 Archives
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009 is Earth Day. How will you be celebrating? Add your plans to the Earth Day Network or just visit to see what others will be up to. Try a keyword search on "library" while you're there.And while you're at it, why not start reading the blog Going Green @ Your Library. The posts include practical tips and other info for libraries and beyond. I highly recommend it!
Here's wishing you a wonderful Earth Day! Post what your library will be up to on Earth Day in the comments or share what your library or community has employed for green practices recently.
> contributed by Beth
OWLS, Fox Valley Library Council, and Winnefox Library System are hosting a bus trip to the ALA annual conference exhibits on Monday, July 13th. More information about the trip, costs, and a registration form are available at http://extranet.winnefox.org/ala2009.
NOTE: Many vendors are now offering free "Exhibits Only" passes. Details on how to obtain a free pass are included on the registration form linked above. Order yours today, and register for the bus trip if you haven't already!
> contributed by Beth
We don't have any more CE workshops scheduled until next Fall, and those are still in the planning phase, so to keep you entertained until then <wink> I've listed the following webinars on our Online Classes page on OWLSweb.Wednesday, April 22, 10 AM - 11:30 AM
Open Meetings Law and You (sponsored by NFLS)
Thursday, April 23, 1 PM - 2 PM
Mango Languages (sponsored by OWLS)
Tuesday, April 28, 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Get More Out of Firefox (sponsored by Project Play)
Wednesday, May 6, 7 PM - 8 PM
Library 2.0: Technology in Children's Services (sponsored by ALA)
Friday, May 22, 10 AM - 11 AM
Innovation Starts With I - with Helene Blowers (sponsored by Project Play)
More information and registration links are available for all of these webinars on the Online Classes page. I hope you'll be joining us!
> contributed by Beth
(from Channel Weekly, Vol. 11, No. 27, April 9, 2009 - posted with permission)
The
Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice prepared and
issued in installments a technical assistance document designed to
assist state and local officials to improve compliance with Title II of
the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in their programs, services,
activities, and facilities. The technical assistance document series
is entitled “The ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local
Governments.”
The Tool Kit is designed
to teach state and local government officials how to identify and fix
problems that prevent people with disabilities from gaining equal
access to state and local government programs, services,
and activities. It will also teach state and local officials how to
conduct accessibility surveys of their buildings and facilities to
identify and remove architectural barriers to access. While state and
local governments are not required to use the ADA Best
Practices Tool Kit, the U.S. Department of Justice encourages its use
as one effective means of complying with the requirements of Title II
of the ADA. The Toolkit can be found here: http://www.ada.gov/pcatoolkit/toolkitmain.htm.
Other useful ADA
information and guidelines for local governments, as well as links to
publications on topics such as “Accessibility of State and Local
Websites,” and “ADA Guide for Small Towns” are listed on the
ADA Home Page: http://www.ada.gov/.
I'm a visual person, as I've said before, so whenever I can include a graphic or screenshot or some visual element in my documents or posts, I usually do. One of the things that used to frustrate me is having to set the wrapping options for each graphic I include, even though I usually want them to behave in a similar manner. For example, I tend to like images right-aligned with text to the left.
This tip from WorldStart.com saved the day for me recently. Check out Wrapping Your Pictures in Text to learn how to control how your graphics behave in MS Word. It's easy to do and has saved me lots of time.
By the way, WorldStart.com's computer tips are pretty good, and you can get them sent to you via email or RSS. Not all tips will be compatible with how we recommend you manage your computers at your library, but the MS Office tips are great to take a look at.
FWIW!
> contributed by Beth
This tip from WorldStart.com saved the day for me recently. Check out Wrapping Your Pictures in Text to learn how to control how your graphics behave in MS Word. It's easy to do and has saved me lots of time.
By the way, WorldStart.com's computer tips are pretty good, and you can get them sent to you via email or RSS. Not all tips will be compatible with how we recommend you manage your computers at your library, but the MS Office tips are great to take a look at.
FWIW!
> contributed by Beth
"Every child needs a safe place to fall - a place where he or she can explore things without worrying about failure and judgment. A library is one of those places. In a library you can learn by following your own nose, which is very different from someone telling you what you should learn. Once a kid learns a library is hers, to use as she wants, the world opens up., I've seen it happen. It happened to me."~ Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and storyteller, Bill Harley
Children's Book Week is coming up May 11-17, 2009. What will your library be doing to celebrate? If you need some ideas, check out ALA's Kids! @ Your Library Campaign Tool Kit. The kit includes programming ideas, downloadable PSAs, quotes, logos and line art, and more. Additional resources are available at Children's Book Week - be sure to click on the "For Teachers, Librarians, and Booksellers" box.
> contributed by Beth
Here's what Seth Godin has to say about graphic design:
The last phrase was made bold by me, because I completely agree with his statement and feel very strongly about this topic. What does the graphic design of your library's products (e.g. web site, posters, brochures, etc.) communicate about your library? Have you been using the same design to announce programs for the last 10 or 20 years? Or do you share a fresh face that engages and entices people to check out what you have to offer?
Take some time to look at the promotional materials you see when you're out and about in your community. What grabs your attention? What do you find attractive? And if your material is in the midst of others, do you notice yours or someone else's stuff first?
Maybe it's time your library's graphic design had a facelift! OWLS members are very lucky to have Bradd's talents at their disposal. Why not let him create something new the next time you place an order? He's just itchin' to break the mold and provide some eye-catching designs just for you.
> contributed by Beth
P.S. Remember to try to allow Bradd 2 weeks when you order materials!
Ten years ago, you had a wide range of excuses for being a lousy visuals person. Starting with no talent, leading to no skill and going from there.
But now, in a world where it is expected that professionals will be able to make beautiful powerpoint slides, handsome business cards, clever bio photos and a decent website, it's as important as driving.
The last phrase was made bold by me, because I completely agree with his statement and feel very strongly about this topic. What does the graphic design of your library's products (e.g. web site, posters, brochures, etc.) communicate about your library? Have you been using the same design to announce programs for the last 10 or 20 years? Or do you share a fresh face that engages and entices people to check out what you have to offer?
Take some time to look at the promotional materials you see when you're out and about in your community. What grabs your attention? What do you find attractive? And if your material is in the midst of others, do you notice yours or someone else's stuff first?
Maybe it's time your library's graphic design had a facelift! OWLS members are very lucky to have Bradd's talents at their disposal. Why not let him create something new the next time you place an order? He's just itchin' to break the mold and provide some eye-catching designs just for you.
> contributed by Beth
P.S. Remember to try to allow Bradd 2 weeks when you order materials!
There's still time to register for the OWLS webinars and CE workshops taking place over the next couple of weeks! Here's what's happening and when. Be sure to sign up soon if you'd like to participate!- Wednesday, April 8, 10 AM-11 AM: Learn a Test (webinar)
- Thursday, April 16, 2 PM-4 PM: Great New Books for Babies Through Teens (CCBC's public presentation for the Fox Cities Book Festival)
- Friday, April 17, 9:30 AM-11:30 AM: Gerald McDermott
- Friday, April 17, 12:30 PM - 3:15 PM: Great New Books for Children and Teens (CCBC)
And be sure to save the dates for the following upcoming events:
- Thursday, April 23, 1 PM-2PM: Mango Languages (webinar)
- Tuesday, April 28, 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM: Get More Out of Firefox (Project Play Date webinar)
- Friday, May 22, 10 AM - 11 AM: Innovation Starts with I (Project Play Date webinar)
> contributed by Beth
Helene Blowers recently blogged about the Columbus Metropolitan Library's Homework Help Centers. They're doing more than just providing space and assistance, they let kids print their papers for free, live chat help, and they provide free school supplies when needed. Check out this brief video to learn more:
There has been a lot of focus on helping job seekers lately, which is obviously very important. But what about the children of struggling households? Adopting some of CML's ideas could be really helpful to them.
By the way, Helene Blowers will be our presenter for the May Project Play Date. Sign up now to join us on the 22nd for "Innovation Starts with I."
> contributed by Beth
There has been a lot of focus on helping job seekers lately, which is obviously very important. But what about the children of struggling households? Adopting some of CML's ideas could be really helpful to them.
By the way, Helene Blowers will be our presenter for the May Project Play Date. Sign up now to join us on the 22nd for "Innovation Starts with I."
> contributed by Beth
Seems like this month is busier than ever! April celebrates National Poetry Month and includes the following events to boot, just to name a few:
> contributed by Beth
- National Library Week: April 12-18
- Fox Cities Book Festival: April 14-19
- Earth Day: April 22
The library is a quiet place.
Angels and gods huddled
In dark unopened books.
The great secret lies
On some shelf Miss Jones
Passes every day on her rounds.
~ excerpt from "In the Library," a poem by Charles Simic
> contributed by Beth
The 2008 Outagamie County and Waupaca County circulation matrices are now posted on the OWLS Statistics page. Each county's circulation matrix shows the circulation by every library in the county to every jurisdiction in the county that doesn't operate a library. A county's circulation matrix provides a detailed breakdown of the circulation for which the county reimburses its municipal libraries, i.e., it's the circulation we use to make the annual county budget requests. In addition, the population and circulation per capita is listed for each town. Take a look and see how much the neighboring towns use your library. You might be surprised by the numbers.
> contributed by Rick via News for Directors
> contributed by Rick via News for Directors
If you haven't registered for the upcoming Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries conference in Wisconsin Dells, there's still time! WAPL will take place on May 7th and 8th, with a readers' advisory post-conference available on the 8th and 9th. Check out the web site for information on registration, conference sessions, and local attractions.
Hope to see you there!
> contributed by Beth
Hope to see you there!
> contributed by Beth
Ever have the discovery of a gadget just absolutely make your day? Well this one made mine. Check out this 2 port USB car cigarette lighter adapter! Why do I think it's so cool, you ask? Because the one gadget in my life that I use absolutely every day (other than my cell phone) is my iPod. Just can't live without it. But sometimes when I'm on the road, it becomes dangerously close to losing battery power because I use it so much. So this cool little gadget will save the day by letting me charge my iPod in my car, and I never have to be without my podcasts and tunes ever again. And better yet, it's only $4.81 on Amazon. Woohoo!It's the little things in life that make me happy...
What gadgets make your heart go pitter pat or which one can't you live without? Post in the comments. :)
> contributed by Beth
The Frank L. Weyenberg Public Library in Mequon, Wisconsin has begun circulating a Kindle 2 to its patrons. The Kindle was given to the library by an anonymous donor and already has a lengthy waiting list. Library director, Linda Bendix, reported that the Kindle will circulate for one-week checkouts."We are monitoring the reaction. Some patrons are checking it out for the novelty. We're waiting to see if there is sustained demand," she said.
Read the full Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article for more details.
(spotted on the WLA Blog, image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/dekuwa/3267474040/)
> contributed by Beth
This quote from 37 signals recently appeared on walking paper:
Libraries are used to trying to be all things to all people. We invent programs to help our patrons with the latest issues they face. We try to keep up with technology and current expectations of service. But is it time to consider sunsetting some services and focusing on few rather than more, more, more?
Limits can bring success, as Southwest Airlines has proven. Can we focus on essential functions and still have engaging libraries? Post your thoughts in the comments. What could you limit in an effort to strengthen something else happening at your library?
> contributed by Beth
Southwest Airlines. The airline has succeeded in large part due to its embrace of constraints. For example, its fleet consists exclusively of aircraft from the Boeing 737 line. By flying only a single aircraft, the company spends less to train pilots, ground crew, and mechanics. And maintenance, purchasing, and other operations are also vastly simplified, which reduces costs too.
More ways that Southwest keeps it simple: It offers flights only to select cities, no seating class distinctions, a simple pricing structure, a bare-bones frequent flier program, no meal service, etc.
Shows how executing on essential functions and leaving the rest out can still take you a long way.
Libraries are used to trying to be all things to all people. We invent programs to help our patrons with the latest issues they face. We try to keep up with technology and current expectations of service. But is it time to consider sunsetting some services and focusing on few rather than more, more, more?
Limits can bring success, as Southwest Airlines has proven. Can we focus on essential functions and still have engaging libraries? Post your thoughts in the comments. What could you limit in an effort to strengthen something else happening at your library?
> contributed by Beth
