• CE compliance forms are due July 15th. If you are keeping your library's CE information in RPLS CLeO, you do not need to complete this form. If you are meeting your CE compliance by other means and not recording them in CLeO, you will need to complete this form.
• Academic Profile sheets (pdf) are due August 15th.

RPLS PLINKIT! LIBRARIES GO LIVE: Thirteen RPLS Libraries are participating in the first phase RPLS's IL PlinkIt! Grant. The libraries which have already gone live in RPLS are: Taylorville Public Library, Neoga Public Library District, Weldon Public Library District, Greenup Township Public Library, Mt. Zion Public District Library, Illiopolis/Niantic Public Library District, and Barclay Public Library District.

When talking about PlinkIt!, Jennie Alexander, Mt. Zion PDL Director, says, "It's stupid proof. If you can do word-processing, you can do this. When we closed the library for Karen Clifton's funeral, I was able to update our website from home." Mt. Zion PDL had a great looking website, thanks to some Millikin students, but the weekly updates were daunting, and the website now has features that were not possible with their old website. Jennie was afraid that they (the PlinkIt websites) would all look the same, but you can customize them and its the content that makes them unique. "If you really want to make your site unique, you can hire a Plone developer." This grant enables libraries to have attractive up-to-date interactive website that is easy to keep updated.

Libraries working on their websites are Moweaqua Public Library District, and Storm Memorial PLD, with Mason City Public Library District, South Fork Schools and Stonington Township Library getting training on how to prepare for their new websites.

If you are interested in joining this project we will be training new libraries this fall. Contact Bev, if you are interesting in learning more about becoming a part of this grant.

“Funding for the "PlinkIt!" grant was awarded by the Illinois State Library (ISL) a Division of the Office of the Secretary of State, using funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), under the Federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA)”.

Athens Municipal Library has been awarded an LSTA Demonstration Grant in order to expand library services to the unserved areas in the vicinity. Congratulations to Lynn Taylor Clark and the entire Athens library community. We wish you success this coming year in fulfilling your grant activities.

The new location will feature a bit more space and integrated operations with our long-time fiscal agent, the Illinois Public Health Association. It will be less than one block north of the Illinois State Library.

We invite members of RPLS to stop in after July 13 to see the new facility. The Clearinghouse provides library and information services to families, professionals and anyone else in Illinois interested in early childhood and disability issues. It is one of the only libraries in the nation devoted to early childhood intervention.

• August 8th - Refresher Training for Current Chat Providers
• August 9th - Administrators
• August 9th - Email Providers (those who use email but not chat)
• August 10th - New Chat Provider Training

Training conducted by Louise Greene at RPLS and Loretta Broomfield of Shawnee Library System. Loretta is the Information Services Consultant at the Shawnee Library System. She began her involvement in virtual reference in 2003 when OCLC and the Illinois State Library developed the QuestionPoint pilot program for Illinois. She has presented workshops and participated in virtual reference panel discussions at the system and state levels and serves on the Ask?Away Illinois! advisory committee.

This session is conducted using LiveMeeting for the visual portion and a toll-free conference call for the audio portion (streaming audio is not available). If you have not previously participated in a LiveMeeting session, you may test your computer for compatibility with LiveMeeting using this link. Register online for this session.

Bob Patrick, Director of the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress keynotes the morning session. He speaks about a national initiative mandated by Congress to collect oral histories that chronicle the stories of America’s veterans and home-front workers from World War I through the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Joseph Popowitch, Reference Librarian at Indian Trails Public Library shares the heartwarming experiences of library staff and volunteers who participated in the Library of Congress Veterans History Project in Darien, Illinois. Mr. Popowitch explains the surprising benefits that the library experienced when this project raised visibility of the library in the community.

The morning speakers offer inspiration and education to librarians interested in participating in the Library of Congress’ Veteran’s History Project and the Illinois Veteran’s History Project. The afternoon workshops give you the resources and skills to easily host local programs for veterans.

Afternoon sessions include:

• A demonstration of Audacity, easy-to-use and free audio software
• Life Stories Project: Interview Skills · Becoming a Talking Book Advocate Everyone who attends will receive:
• Multi-media Presentation entitled “A Salute to Veterans” – Use it to set the tone for your own library programs geared to Veterans.
• Training to develop interview skills and recording skills so you can help students or other volunteers in your own community capture the oral histories of your community’s veterans. PBS TV station WTVP is a training partner.
• Posters and Media Releases customized for your local library programs are available by August 10 to anyone registered on CLEO for MITBC Day. Send us your program dates, so we can customize your posters and releases for delivery 6-weeks prior to September 23rd.

This fall is an opportune time to host programs for veterans. PBS stations begin airing a Ken Burns series - “The War” on September 23, 2007. Ken Burns is a spokesperson for the Veterans History Project. Once you attend “A Salute to Veterans”, you will have everything you need to host a successful program.

Schedule your local program now for October or November. Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center is willing to be your partner for local programming. The new Digital Talking Books, due in 2009, will be distributed on a first-come, first served basis with priority given to veterans. MITBC seeks to build relationships with and to identify veterans prior to the release of Digital Talking Books.

Register for an Alliance Library System CLeO account and then register for this session sponsored by the Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center.  Registration closes September 12, 2007.

Another excellent plan is the The Online Disaster-Planning Tool. Medium and large libraries might find this plan particularly useful.

The 2008 Public Library Per Capita and Equalization Aid Grant applications will be mailed on July 2. The grant application and all supporting documentation must be postmarked on or before October 15, 2007 or hand delivered to the Illinois State Library no later than 4:30 p.m. on October 15, 2007. For questions please contact Mary Downing at 217-782-5506 or 800-665-5576 after June 11th.

Please stay on top of this important process. For questions please contact Louise Greeene at 429-2586 ext. 108.

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR REACHING FORWARD SOUTH: Plan to send your support staff to Reaching Forward South on September 21st and 22nd at the Northfield Inn Springfield, IL. This year's conference theme is Outside of the Box. School librarian's can get ISBE cpdu's. They have great pre-conference sessions on September 21st. The Keynote speakers on the 22nd are Gail Johnson, Owner, and Pam Parr, Face to Face Communications and Training. Speakers include: Mark McDonald, Producer and Host of “Illinois Stories” and Jade Lee, USA Today bestselling author.  Sessions include: Paula Lopatic's " PANCAKES, CROCODILES, BUBBLE GUM, AND MORE..", Kevin Greene, Illinois EPA's, "GREENING YOUR LIBRARY", Iris Nelson's genealogy session, "UNDER INVESTIGATION: ANCESTRY DETECTIVE STRATEGIES", Thea Chesley's "MANAGE YOUR STUFF & CONQUER CLUTTER!" and much, much more. You may register by mail for the conference. Online registration will be soon available. Registration deadline is: September 15, 2007. No refunds will be made after September 22, 2007.

CALL FOR POSTERS
Posters will be presented during an evening reception on October 25. This will be a venue for sharing ideas on new projects, services, research, or to network with people facing similar issues. Posters need not be related to the health sciences, but should have some connection to special or academic librarianship. To apply, send an e-mail to Stacey Knight-Davis that includes your name and contact information, title of the poster, and an abstract.

For more information on the poster session, please contact:
Stacey Knight-Davis
Booth Library
Eastern Illinois University
600 Lincoln Ave.
Charleston, IL 61920
217-581-7549
slknight@eiu.edu

The 2007 Building Better Communities Awards recipients are, Alliance Library System, East Peoria, IL; BOPCRIS Project, University of Southampton Library, Southhampton, United Kingdom; Lincoln Trail Libraries System, Champaign, IL; Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, Charlotte, N.C.; Smithsonian Institution Research Information System (SIRIS), Washington, D.C.; and SUNLINK: Florida Department of Education, Tallahassee, FLA. The six recipients, as well as nine other finalists, were recognized at a special ceremony today during the American Library Association Annual Conference. Additional information (pdf).

Budget and Finance for the Library (ALA-APA approved for CPLA candidates)

Dates: September 5 - October 8, 2007

Times: Online synchronous sessions Wednesday, September 5 and Mondays, September 10, 17, 24, October 1, and 8 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Central time

Instructor: Robert H. Burger, Ph.D., CPA, Associate University Librarian for Services, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Cost: $300

Intended audience: CPLA program candidates; librarians and information professionals needing training in library budget and finance topics.

Purpose of the course: To familiarize the student with the basic principles of library financial administration, including budgeting and planning within the mission and goals of the organization. Upon completion of the course the candidate is expected to be able to develop program budgets, conduct operational analysis for budget forecasting, develop capital budgets, conduct cost/benefit analyses, and work with accounting personnel. Topics include line item, program, and capital budgets, cost benefit analysis, performance measures and operations indicators, capital projects, and fiduciary responsibilities of the library director, trustees, and others having responsibilities for financial administration in the library. The use of Microsoft Excel is assumed and will be used at a level appropriate for someone who has basic knowledge of Microsoft Excel. For additional information and online registration form.

Those interested in enrolling should fill out the Request to Enroll in GSLIS Course(s) form by August 10. Classes start on Wednesday, August 22.  A list of classes available for fall semester and the enrollment form are located online. Courses run from August 22nd to  December 7th 2007.

On campus  

• LIS 544A Library Cooperation and Networks with Weech
  W 9-11:50 am 131 LISB 

• LIS 590IL Global Perspectives in LIS with Weech
  Tu 9-11:50 am 46 LISB 

Online (LEEP) 

• LIS 458LE Instruction and Assistance Systems with Wong
  Live sessions Th 5-7 pm On campus Sunday, October 14 

• LIS 523LE Information Sources and Services in Social Science with Wheeler
  Live sessions W 6:45-8:45 pm On campus Friday, October 12  

• LIS 525LE Government Information with Mallory/Swindells
  Live sessions Tu 2:15-4:15 pm On campus Friday, October 12 

• LIS 530ELE Business Information with Elichirigoity
  Live sessions M 2:15-4:15 pm On campus Friday, October 12 

• LIS 577LE Cataloging and Classification 2 with Tarsala
  Live sessions W 4:3-0-6:30 pm On campus Tuesday, October 16 

• LIS 581LE Administration and Use of Archival Materials with Prom
  Live sessions W 7-9 pm On campus Tuesday, October 16 

• LIS 590BDL Biodiversity Informatics with Heidorn
  Live sessions Tu 2-4 pm pm On campus Tuesday, October 16  

• LIS 590DCL Foundations of Data Curation with Cragin/MacMullen
  Live sessions Th 6:15-8:15 pm On campus Friday, October 12 

• LIS 590EPL Electronic Publishing and Information Processing Standards with Flanders
  Live sessions M 7-9 pm On campus Sunday, October 14  

• LIS 590TCL Thesaurus Construction with LaBarre
  Live sessions Tu 6:45-8:45 pm On campus Monday, October 15 

• LIS 590TL Theological Librarianship with Berryhill
  Live sessions W 4-6 pm

The keynote speaker will be Janice LaChance, Chief Executive Officer of the Special Libraries Association. Registration will open soon, so mark your calendars now!

Questions can be directed to Gretel Stock-Kupperman or 630-734-5139.

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WEBJUNCTION ILLINOIS WANTS YOUR PICTURES!: As part of the upcoming launch of WebJunction Illinois later this year, developers want to create a "group portrait" of the Illinois library family. They're looking for photos of your libraries, your library staff and volunteers, programs at your libraries, special collections, artwork and artifacts - basically the people, places and things that comprise libraries in Illinois. School, public, special or academic libraries and regional library systems are all invited to be a part of this historic project. Go to the LibraryU homepage to find out how to upload to the Illinois Libraries Flickr photo group, then look for the results of your contributions to take center stage when WebJunction Illinois goes live this summer. Please be sure that your library has a release for photos that you upload that include images of any people other than library staff.

This is a FREE workshop.  Please register with Pat Wellen at 618-650-2254.  Please register by July 16, 2007. Additional information. RPLS Staff are planning on attending, and we will have a limited number of seats available in the van for the trip over. If you care to join us, please email Rachel and be sure to register with Pat Wellen.

Spanish Drama by John Gassner
Two Plays by Edward Albee
15 American One-Act Plays by Paul Kozelka
Three Comedies of American Family Life by Joseph Mersand

There was no barcode or library identification on them. There was the following name in each book "Ron Seney".

If these books belong to your library or one of your patrons please contact Angela.

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MISSING ITEMS: Please check your shelves for the the following books: Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey 332.024R, Afternoon Tea Cookbook by Linda Hewitt 641.53H, and Pocket Guide to Depression Glass and more, 1920s-1960s 748.2F. These books belong to the Vespasian Warner Public Library, Clinton. If you find any of these books in your library please return them to Vespasian Warner Public Library, Attention: Tom Rudasill.

For our school members, you must go through Follett Library Resources for Playaway products.  Please read on. Follett Library Resources is the exclusive distributor of all content licensed to Playaway for the K-12 market. FLR carries all of the same great titles that we have available in our online catalog. If you are looking to circulate Playaway within your school environment, you can shop for titles at www.titlewave.com.

Remember RPLS posts vendor discounts for our member libraries from many library vendors on our vendor discounts page. 

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GRANT OPPORTUNITIES: Visit RPLS's online grant notices page.

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CAREER OPPORTUNITIES: Visit RPLS's online job notices page.

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UPCOMING WORKSHOPS AT RPLS: You may register for any of these events on-line at RPLS CLeO, if you have any questions please contact Angela at angelat@rpls.ws or (217) 429-2586. In order to allow RPLS Staff the time and opportunity to update our course offerings to comply with Statewide standards, we will be canceling any classes that do not have three people signed up for the class at least 3 working days before the class meets. You will receive an email the day the decision is made.

Ed2GO - Rolling Prairie Library System offers six-week computer-based training courses at your own desktop at a very reasonable cost, which can now be paid online with your credit card or sent directly to RPLS. Courses are starting on July 18th.

BARCODING BASICS IN DYNIX HORIZON: This is the basic, barcoder-level "searching and tagging on" class. This workshop is being held at RPLS on July 24th from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. It also being held on August 16th from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

COPY CATALOGING WITH OCLC CONNEXION AND DYNIX HORIZON: You will learn to properly download, install, and configure the OCLC Connexion software for use in your library. Be sure to review the prerequisites for this class. This workshop is being held  at RPLS on July 26th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. It is also being held on August 23rd from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

BARCODE CERTIFICATION PERFORMANCE EVALUATION: The RPLS Training room will be open from 9 am until 4 pm for individuals to come complete the Barcode Certification Performance Evaluation. The average time to complete the evaluation is an hour and a half. In order to avoid waiting at computer terminals, it is recommended that you contact Doris with your estimated time of arrival for taking the Certification Performance Evaluation. It is suggested that you plan to arrive before 3 pm in order to have adequate time to complete to the Barcode Certification Performance Evaluation. This workshop will be held at RPLS on August 8th from from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

BARCODE CERTIFICATION PREP CLASS: The RPLS LLSAP Database Standards committee has developed training materials to help prepare RPLS barcoders and catalogers to prepare for the Barcode Certification Performance Evaluation.
Attendance at a training session is not required to take the real Barcode Certification Performance Evaluation, but it is encouraged. The training sessions are offered for your convenience and in order to help alleviate any performance anxiety on the actual Barcode Certification Performance Evaluation. This workshop will be held at RPLS on August 1st (Full) from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Thursday, August 30th (New) from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

ASKAWAY ILLINOIS - ANNUAL VIRTUAL REFERENCE REFRESHER: This workshop is required for current chat providers. The goal of this session is to refresh skills, troubleshoot any difficulties encountered in working with patrons, meet other chat providers, and to review standards and guidelines expected of the participants in the statewide cooperative and the global consortium. Reference interviews, session tone, scripts development, dealing with difficult patrons, using resolution codes, global coverage, handling multiple patrons, and managing shared follow up will be among the topics covered. Participants are asked to bring a transcript of a challenging session to share with colleagues. It will be an intensive day and at least two trainers will be on hand to assist attendees. Training will be duplicated at Rolling Prairie Library System in Decatur and at the West Frankfort Public Library in West Frankfort in the Shawnee Library System. Those who cannot attend in August or October will have another opportunity at two additional locations in the Spring. This workshop will be held at RPLS on August 8th from from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

ASKAWAY ILLINOIS - TRAINING FOR ADMINISTRATORS (NEW OR CURRENT): This workshop is targeted to the new AskAway administrator of virtual reference services in a library. However, current administrators are also welcome to attend. In many cases, the attendee may also be the chat provider. The administrator will be trained in setting up chat accounts, policy pages, library profiles, scripts, link construction, mail management, shared follow up, and how to retrieve and use statistical reports. It will be an intensive half day and at least two trainers will be on hand to assist attendees. Training will be duplicated at Rolling Prairie Library System in Decatur and at the West Frankfort Public Library in West Frankfort in the Shawnee Library System. Those who cannot attend in August or October will have another opportunity at two additional locations in the Spring. This workshop will be held at RPLS on August 9th from from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

ASKAWAY ILLINOIS - TRAINING FOR NON-CHAT PROVIDERS: This workshop is intended for the school librarian/media specialist and public or special librarian who is not providing chat services but is participating in the AskAway cooperative primarily through email and shared follow-up. Training will focus on the responsible use of the chat service within a school environment, the student as patron, managing email reference questions, referrals and the additional uses students/staff can make of this type of virtual communication. It will be an intensive half-day and at least two trainers will be on hand to assist attendees. Training will be duplicated at Rolling Prairie Library System in Decatur and at the West Frankfort Public Library in West Frankfort in the Shawnee Library System. Those who cannot attend in August or October will have another opportunity at two additional locations in the Spring. This workshop will be held at RPLS on August 9th from from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

ASKAWAY ILLINOIS - TRAINING FOR NEW CHAT PROVIDERS: This workshop is for libraries interested in providing chat reference and in participating in the statewide and global cooperatives. The goal of this session is to provide a new participant with the skills to begin service through their library. All the chat and email basics, AskAway Illinois operations, and QuestionPoint will be covered. It will be an intensive day and at least two trainers will be on hand to assist attendees. Training will be duplicated at Rolling Prairie Library System in Decatur and at the West Frankfort Public Library in West Frankfort in the Shawnee Library System. Those who cannot attend in August or October will have another opportunity at two additional locations in the Spring. Participants must also have a signed letter of intent on file with the AskAway Illinois Coordinator. This workshop will be held at RPLS on August 10th from from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

PUBLIC PER CAPITA GRANT 2008 WORKSHOP: What will be covered: Information on what is new and different. This will be followed by a review of the FY 2008 requirements for the Public Library Per Capita Grants with emphasis on Disaster Planning. Exercises on effective narratives will be conducted. The FY 09 Per Capita requirements will also be reviewed. This workshop will be held at RPLS on August 21st from from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (Full) or 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (New)

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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 Friday, July 27, 2007.  All submissions should arrive before 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 24, 2007, for inclusion in the newsletter. You may fax submissions to (217) 428-1852, or e-mail them to Doris McKay at  dorism@rpls.ws or Angela Thompson at angelat@rpls.ws