Volume 10, Number 19 October 1, 1999

99-266 LIBRARY CALENDAR

October 4 School Grant Work Session, RPLS, 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.

October 7 RPLS Membership Meeting, Decatur Holiday Inn Select, 4:30 p.m.

October 12 Public Library Audits & Reports, RPLS, 9:00 - noon.

October 12 S/MSLN Meeting, Pleasant Plains H.S., 4:00 p.m.

October 13 RPLS Board, RPLS, 2:00 p.m.

October 14 Copyright and the New Millennium, LTLS, 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

October 16-19 ILA Conference, Navy Pier, Chicago.

October 20 DRA Meeting, Vespasian Warner PLD, Clinton, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.

October 28-30 ISLMA Conference, Decatur.

November 4 Weeding 101, RPLS, 9:00 - noon.

November 10 RPLS Board, RPLS, 2:00 p.m.

November 10-14 AASL Conference, Birmingham, AL.

99-267 FUTURE OF RPLS ILL: Beginning April 1, 2000, RPLS will no longer search interlibrary loan requests against the LLSAP, Illinet Online, or First Search databases. Member libraries can now easily provide their patrons with faster and better access to these enormous in-state resources by searching them directly. New developments, such as VIC (Virtual Illinois Catalog) will make the finding of materials in-state even easier.

Between now and April 1, 2000, RPLS will continue to provide training sessions on the use of these databases. Watch for a schedule of training sessions at the end of this month for the October-December quarter. If you need to learn more about using in-state databases for interlibrary loan, be sure to sign up for the appropriate sessions.

After April 1, 2000, RPLS will continue to search for materials that cannot be found in the in-state databases. We will also continue to provide a wide range of training experiences relating to database searching and interlibrary loan.

99-268 PUBLIC FUNDS INVESTMENT ACT: In recent weeks public libraries have been receiving letters advising them of the Public Funds Investment Act that requires "a written investment policy for public funds within their custody or control by January 1, 2000. RPLS sent out a memo on this in March 9, 1999 along with Gift Ban Act information. If you need another copy of the investment policy information, you may request a copy from Tami at RPLS.

99-269 DOWNSTATE BUSINESS MANAGERS: The Downstate Business Managers will meet on Friday, Oct. 22, 1999 at 9:30 a.m. at the Decatur Public Library. The topic will be a presentation and discussion about the remodeling for the new Decatur library.

99-270 PAULA LOPATIC TO RECEIVE DAVIS CUP AWARD FROM THE ILLINOIS LIBRARY ASSOCIATION: Paula Lopatic, Children's Librarian at the Vespasian Warner Public Library District in Clinton, has been selected as the 1999 recipient of the Davis Cup Award. This award was established by the Illinois Library Association in 1971 to recognize those who had made outstanding contributions to library service for young people. It was conceived as an appropriate honor to Marion Davis, storyteller extraordinaire and former children's librarian at the Des Plaines Public Library, who devoted herself to extending and improving activities which bring together children and reading.

In submitting the nomination, Malinda Evans, Director of the Vespasian Warner Public Library District, wrote that Ms. Lopatic manages one of the most active children's programs in the state. Her most significant accomplishments include commitment to storytelling and the Illini Storytellers' Guild, development of the local children's collection, active professional association service through IREAD, creative programming during the summer and throughout the year, and design of an inventive but workable children's facility. Ms. Evans'  nomination was supported by Denise Anton Wright of the Alliance Library System in Bloomington and Beverly J. Obert of Rolling Prairie Library System in Decatur.

Ms. Lopatic will receive an engraved Revere bowl and a financial award from the sponsor, Franklin Watts, a publisher of children's and young adult non-fiction books.

This award will be presented at the ILA Youth Services Forum Breakfast during the Illinois Library Association Annual Conference on Monday morning, October 18, 1999 at Navy Pier in Chicago. Ms. Lopatic will also be recognized from the floor at the ILA Conference Awards Ceremony on Monday afternoon. The Awards Ceremony will be preceded by a reception for recipients, sponsors and designated guests.

99-271 COPYRIGHT AND THE NEW MILLENNIUM: This workshop will be sponsored by LTLS/RPLS. Changes in the U.S. Copyright law and changes in information access technologies require librarians and educators to change how we incorporate "fair use" compliance into curriculum, library patron services, interlibrary loan, and remote user access practices. The workshop will be held on October 14, 1999 at LTLS from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Fee $30.00. For more information contact LTLS at 217-352-0047.

99-272 RPLS ROUND TABLE: Plan now to attend a Round Table discussion with RPLS Executive Director Bob Plotzke at Memorial Elementary School, Taylorville on November 2 at 4:00 p.m.

99-273 CHANGE OF DATE: The Planning For Results Training Session scheduled for September 29 & 30 at RPLS will be held on Tuesday, November 30 & Wednesday, December 1, 1999. A revised flyer will be sent out.

99-274 "BOOK START" GRANTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS: SPRINGFIELD - Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White announced today that 742 schools and school districts across the state received $1,000 "Book Start" grants for library materials, using federal Library Services and Technology Act funds administered by the State Library.

"The library is the cornerstone in the education of our public school students," said White. "This is an opportunity to help publicly funded school libraries purchase materials to support the school curriculum."

"Book Start" grants will be used to purchase new materials for the library collection, not textbooks. Books and other newly purchased materials will be located in the school library.

All Rolling Prairie Public Schools received this grant.

99-275 INFORMATION GATEWAY FOR ILLINOIS CITIZENS: The kick-off for Find-It! Illinois and VIC will take place as follows: EVENT: Secretary of State Jesse White's announcement about two exciting new electronic services for Illinois citizens, Find-It! Illinois and VIC.

DATE: Tuesday, October 19, 1999.

TIME: 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

LOCATION: OCLC booth (#306), Festival Hall B, Navy Pier, Chicago.

Additional information about the kick-off will be available in early October on the ILLINET web: http://www.library.sos.state.il.us Library staff are urged to become acquainted with Find-It and VIC in advance of the kick-off.

Through the Find-It! Web site (http://findit.sos.state.il.us), people can access a multitude of state information resources, including the Virtual Illinois Catalog and state government information. The initiative is funded in part through an Institute of Museum and Library Services grant. The Virtual Illinois Catalog (VIC) provides access to 40 million items owned by hundreds of Illinois libraries. Internet users can access information on which libraries own the books and other materials that they need. Access is provided through a user-friendly interface, using OCLC's SiteSearch software. Development of VIC has been a joint effort by the library systems and the Illinois State Library. Publicity will be distributed statewide to tell citizens to click on VIC at http://vic.lib.il.us.

99-276 SHARING CHILDREN'S LITERATURE 1999: Champaign Public Library invites you to explore the world of children's books with other teachers, parents, librarians, and adults who work with elementary school students. Enjoy a day of programs by leading children's literature professionals, including presentations on: selecting books for emergent readers; outstanding folktales and folktale collections; terrific easy readers; great nonfiction titles for booktalking and books to recommend between easy readers and chapter books. The workshop will be held Friday, November 5 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Central Library, 505 South Randolph Street. Fee $15, $25 or $30. Call 217-356-3980 for more information.

99-277 1999 CONFERENCE ON ILLINOIS HISTORY: Friday, October 22 and Saturday, October 23 at the Illinois State House in Springfield, Illinois. Contact Thomas Schwartz at the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency for more information. 217-782-2118.

99-278 SUSPENDED LIBRARY CARDS: The following cards have been suspended from borrowing privileges at the Athens Municipal Library. Those car numbers are 412 and 375. Privileges have been restored for 307 and 453. Contact Bobbi Benning at the Athens library if you have any questions about these patron cards.

99-279 ORPHAN BOOK: SCHOOL DAYS by B.G. Hennessy. Thomas Jefferson School Library stamped on cardholder. To claim this book contact Bev Obert at RPLS.

99-280 ORPHAN BOOK REQUEST: MONEY CLUB by Marilyn Crockett. Contact the interlibrary loan department at RPLS if you have information on this request.

99-281 OTHER WORKSHOPS: Bureau of Education & Research is conducting "READ! New and Classic Ideas for Bringing Children and Books Together" on November 1, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Fee $159.

99-282 CAREER OPPORTUNITIES: The job notices printed in the Prairie News are either submitted to the newsletter editor or taken from the University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science Placement web site. The address is: http://carousel.lis.uiuc.edu/~jobs/.

Director of Learning Resource Center: ILLINOIS EASTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGES - WABASH VALLEY COLLEGE. Duties: responsible for supervising the library, academic assistance center and open computer lab. Requirements: MLS or equivalency. Desired: related work experience. Salary: $25,000 - 28,750 DOE. Date available: 01/03/00. Closing date: Until a qualified candidate is found. Apply to: Personnel Office, 233 Chestnut St, Olney, IL 62450. Notes: Applications will be reviewed beginning October 15, 1999.

Assistant Instructional Support Services Librarian (Asst or Assoc Prof; TT): SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY, CARBONDALE. Duties: respons for dev & maing of Lib's web dev & digital imaging units for the continued dev/maint of net-based publishing capabilities, superv 4 civil service & several Gas, dev/del workshops, liaison to acad depts. Requirements: ALA-acc. MLS, competence w/current lib auto such as OPACS & Internet, knowl of WWW dev tools for teaching & learning (i.e. multimedia appls, OCR sfwre, HTML), excellent oral, written and interpersonal skills. Desired: experience or training in web development, demons potential for leadership and management. Salary: $35,000 min. Closing date: Until a qualified candidate is found. Apply to: Thyra K. Russell trussel@lib.siu.edu, Associate Dean, Personnel and Budget Services, Library Affairs, Mail Code 6632, Carbondale, IL 62901-6632. Phone: 618-453-2681. Notes: Available immediately. Send resume & letter of app stating your qualifications & background for position; contact info including e-mail addresses if available for 3 references.

Librarian/Cataloger: PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY. Duties: full online cataloging of unique PPL holdings on OCLC, troubleshoot online catalog records, provide cat assistance for dbase clean-up such as w/serial records, reclass, OCLC problem reports, maintain stats. Requirements: ALA-acc. MLS, 2 yrs technical service exp, ability to learn and apply lib tech servs procedures/policies, accurate keyboarding skills, computer exp, working knowl OCLC, MARC format, Dewey classification, LCSH. Salary: $23,654 min, DOE/Q plus benefits. Closing date: Until a qualified candidate is found. Apply to: Amy Glass amyglass@ppl.peoria.lib.il.us, Head of Technical Services, 107 N.E. Monroe, Peoria, IL 61602-1070. Phone: 309-497-2150. Fax: 309-674-0116. Notes: Contact Ms. Glass if interested.

99-283 PRAIRIE NEWS SUBMISSIONS: The Prairie News is a biweekly publication of RPLS. Notices, meetings, giveaways, career opportunities and other news items of interest to the membership may be submitted. Items will be edited to fit the space requirements of the newsletter. The next issue of the Prairie News will be October 15, 1999. All submissions should arrive on or before 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 12, 1999, for inclusion in the newsletter.