A unique source for book reviews

Check out WritersareReaders.com http://www.writersarereaders.com/!

Run by husband and wife authors, Katherine Stone and Jack Chase, this web site offers reviews of books by other commercially published authors.

Continuing Education courses from UW-Madison SLIS

Improve your skills this summer!
Below are the Summer Continuing Education courses from UW-Madison SLIS-CES.

Collection Development in Green Lake July 21-25 Learn to better manage your collection while enjoying a week of state rates at the Heidel House Resort.

Basic Reference in Madison August 4-8 Spend a fun week on campus and improve your reference skills.

Bilingual Storytime Workshop in MadisonAugust 11-13 You will gain an understanding of cultural differences and learn how to effectively incorporate elements of Hispanic, Native American, and Hmong cultures into your children's programming.

Questions? Contact Anna Palmer, ahpalmer@wisc.edu or 608-263-4452. Full information is available here: http://www.slis.wisc.edu/continueed/

Horizon Database Replacement scheduled

The Horizon Database server will be replaced on Tuesday, July 15, 2008.

Please plan on being down all day.

The replacement will also affect access to the OverDrive database as well.

For Platteville PL, the Envisionware software will be affected.

We apologize for any inconvenience this downtime causes.

Date Change for Round the table

The Round the Table discussion has been rescheduled for Friday, June 13.

Community Programming with Cele Wolf

This morning our own Cele Wolf presented a program on her very successful community program series at the Soldiers Grove Public Library, in a community of 653.

So, why do we do this?

• Follows the library's mission
• Enrichment of the community
• Puts library into the public eye--helps to bring the library to the city government's attention in a good way

There are a wealth of resources available:

• Wisconsin Humanitites Council Speakers Bureau
• Univ. of WI Speakers Bureau
• Local folks with unusual talents or projects (sometimes they don't even charge!!)

It all started with programming for children. Cele noticed over time, however, that the parents enjoyed the programming as much as the children. She approached her board for more money to bring in speakers from the WI Humanities Council Speakers Bureau.

So just where do these ideas come from? Successful ideas grow out of an existing community interest. The librarians needs to know what's "in the air". Is there something going on in the schools or with a community group that the library can tap into? Over time, your patrons can be a great source of ideas for programs.

What about failure? Well, that happens too. There will be times when you think you've hit upon the perfect topic at the perfect time, but no one shows.

Putting the program together:

1. Pick your topic (intergenerational is good!)
2. Find your expert ( make all of the arrangements)
3. The Promotion (80% of what makes a program successful)
4. The Event (setup to cleanup, refreshments--get help)
5. Evaluation/Recap (count your attendance, what were your expenses, get your audience response)

Use posters, flyers, handouts and your library newsletters. Send press releases to area newspapers and radio stations. Don't forget to talk-it-up!!! Word of mouth is sometimes the most effective advertising you can get.

Be sure that the library is open during the program. People will check out materials during and after a program. Follow-up (thank yous, post event articles)

So why do this??? BECAUSE IT'S FUN!!

Also it can transform the library into a place to meet friends--old and new. Builds community in a age of computers. Almost every single program brings someone into the library that has never been there before.

Think you'd like to start a community program series? Contact Cele for more information.

Commentary on pubic library materials

You may have seen this article already.

If not, follow the link http://www.wpri.org/Commentary/2008/5.08/Sc5.05.08/Sc5.05.08.html t0 Christian Schneider's commentary, "Public libraries--no longer just for the literate".

Economic Impact of Wisconsin Public Libraries

The results are in!

According to the economic study performed by NorthStar, the annual return per dollar of public tax support is $4.06.

More interesting facts from the study:

• Direct spending economic impact in 2006: $326 million (Spending benefits Main Street businesses and jobs)
• The value of Wisconsin Public Library Services: $427 million
• Total jobs related to the economic impact of Wisconsin Public Libraries: 6280 FTE
• Total Economic Impact: $753 million--just over three-quarters of a billion dollars!

According to David J. Ward, founder of NorthStar Economics, Inc, the economic message for public libraries is as follows:

1. Public libraries are a good and necessary investment in a rapidly changing economy.
2. Public libraries are a consistent source of information and technology. They won't be acquired, closed down or moved off shore.
3. With an increasing gap in income levels, public libraries level the information and technology playing field.

To see the full study, visit the DPI website at: http://dpi.state.wi.us/pld/econimpact.html or on the NorthStar Economics, Inc website at: http://www.northstareconomics.com/index.html