2009 SLA Illinois Awards

Do you know people who should be considered for the SLA (Special Library Association) IL awards? Please share their name and a few lines about why. The 2009 awards will be presented at the holiday party on December 2, 2009. We want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to provide input.

Please send suggestions to Roberta.Goering@gmail.com before November 25, 2009.

Awards that will be presented include:

Up and Coming Award: presented to a relatively new Illinois chapter member who through work and professional involvement, shows promise of becoming an outstanding member of the profession.

Author Award: awarded to the Illinois chapter member who has published noteworthy work within the "Informant," other professional literature, a trade journal, popular press, or in-house publication. Work published since January of the previous chapter year will be considered.

Web 2.0 Award: will be awarded to an individual chapter member or their information center who has used Web 2.0 technology (for example, but not limited to: blogs, wikis, flicker, Second Life, presence software, and other collaboration tools) for either the marketing, promotion, communication, knowledge management, or training efforts of their own organization or for the Illinois Chapter of SLA. Nominators should submit two copies of examples and related materials to the awards committee by the award deadline.

Library Champion Award: presented to the parent organization, individual, or other entity that has shown support to special libraries/information centers through speaking, writing, or advocacy.

Outstanding Achievement Award: awarded to an Illinois chapter member or committee who has exhibited outstanding, unique, or beyond-the-call-of-duty service to the chapter.

SLA-IL Green Initiative Award: In an effort to align the Illinois chapter with national SLA’s green initiative and its goal of creating environmentally sustainable organizations, the Illinois Chapter of SLA is instituting a Green Initiative Award. Similar to national SLA’s "Knowledge to Go Green" citations, this award will be bestowed upon an Illinois Chapter member who has demonstrated efforts to "go green" within their individual library or organization. These efforts may include but are not limited to: the institution of environmentally friendly practices such as recycling, replacement of paper and plastic dishware, double sided-printing, etc.; policy changes such as switching to high-efficiency fluorescent lighting, installing overhead light sensors, automatically shutting down idle personal computers; and educational efforts such as encouraging biking or car-pooling to work, using teleconferencing instead of traveling for meetings, and purchasing office supplies and furniture made from recycled materials.

Roselle PLD Closed November 6th for Staff Development Day

The Roselle Public Library District will be closed on Friday, November 6, 2009 for a staff development day. The library will re-open on Saturday, November 7th at 9:30 a.m.

Items Missing from Carol Stream Public Library

The following items were placed in transit to the Carol Stream Public Library, but have not yet been received. Please check your shelves for them.

Departure [sound recording], Call# CD-P/782.42/MCC, Item ID# 31319004095391.
Put in transit to Carol Stream from Poplar Creek on August 11, 2009.

Naruto, Volume 30: Puppet Masters, Call# Y-G/NAR, Item ID# 31319004155146.
Put in transit to Carol Stream from Blackhawk Middle School on September 2, 2009.

The two items listed below are still showing in transit system as well. These were previously reported on September 30, 2009.

Zoo Tycoon 2, Call# JCD-ROM/793.932/ZOO, Item ID# 31319003752141.
Put in transit to Carol Stream from Poplar Creek on August 6, 2009.

The Pretty Committee Strikes Back: A Clique Novel, Call# Y/PB/HAR, Item ID# 31319007301494.
Put in transit to Carol Stream from Blackhawk Middle School on April 23, 2008.

If any of these items are found please return to the Carol Stream Public Library.

Synergy: The Illinois Library Leadership Initiative 2010

April 20 to 22, 2010, Starved Rock Lodge and Conference Center, Utica
August 3 to 5, 2010, Pere Marquette Lodge, Grafton
October 26 to 28, 2010, Hickory Ridge Marriott Conference Hotel, Lisle

Synergy: The Illinois Library Leadership Initiative 2010 is the statewide library community's proactive movement to recruit and nurture future Illinois library leaders. Objectives include self-assessment; discovering and developing personal values; identifying the local, state, and global environment; fostering and expanding skills and tools for personal, professional, and positional leadership; creating a cohort group; establishing mentoring relationships; and developing a vision of and beyond the field of librarianship.

Librarians selected to participate in Synergy: The Illinois Library Leadership Initiative 2010 will commit to yearlong progress, beginning with the first session at Starved Rock Lodge and Conference Center through intersession activities ending with the session at the Hickory Ridge Marriott Conference Hotel. Each site has been chosen for its unique Illinois flavor and for the natural progression, geographically, personally, professionally, as Synergy and its participants travel across the state.

Application Process:
Applicants are responsible for compiling and submitting their complete applications to Ellen Popit, Committee Chair at Shawnee Library System. Applications must be post marked by Monday, November 30, 2009. All applicants will be notified in regard to their application by late January, 2010. Please call Vandella Brown, Cyndy Colletti, or Patricia Norris at 800/665-5576 option #1, or Ellen Popit at 800/455-4374 x 2024 with any questions. See the website for more Synergy information.

MLS Special Libraries Networking Meeting: LinkedIn

Date: Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Time: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: MLS (Metropolitan Library System), Chicago office.

Before you head out to the SLA (Special Libraries Association) IL holiday party, make an afternoon of networking by attending the "MLS Special Libraries Networking Group Meeting: LinkedIn."

This meeting will feature speaker David Rahn, Senior Information Technology Management Professional. Dave Rahn has developed a thorough knowledge of the LinkedIn capabilities. If you are already a frequent user, you will learn something new. If you are not using the tool or like most folks are not using it to its full capability, you will come away with a new awareness of the power and ease of use of this tool.

Description: For establishing and maintaining professional contacts, there is no more powerful social networking tool than LinkedIn. Whether you are promoting your business, seeking the next great employee, or looking for your next career opportunity, LinkedIn is a valuable and generally free resource.

Register for this meeting at the library learning website.

November 22 to 28 is National Game and Puzzle Week

Did you know that November 22 to 28 is National Game and Puzzle week? Even better, did you know the Kids! @ your library® Campaign tool kit has free, printer-friendly games and puzzles with library themes for you to share with young patrons at the library and during school visits?

Challenge kids with crosswords, mazes, hidden picture puzzles, word searches, "mad libs" and more. All are free to download and print from the Kids! Campaign website. Or, go to the ALA website and click on the “Tool Kit” link.

Circulation Assistant I

(Part time) Messenger Public Library of North Aurora Illinois seeks a front line customer service oriented employee to work at the main check-out service desk with library patrons of all ages. North Aurora is a community of 15,893 people. North Aurora, Illinois is a fast-growing suburb 35 miles west of Chicago located in Kane County along the Fox River. The library is a member of the Dupage Library System (DLS) and a member of the DLS MAGIC Consortium (SIRSI Dynix / Symphony E-Library Workflows Interface).

Hours: 15 hours per week (non-exempt position) including evenings, daytimes, and weekends. Additional hours are possible due to staff vacations, illness, and leaves of absence. You must be available all hours the library is open including evenings, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Salary: $9.50 per hour.
Benefits: Up to 39 hours of paid time off prorated after the first full year of employment.

Job Summary: This position requires exceptional customer service skills. As a circulation assistant you will be one of the first points of customer contact as they enter the library. In a courteous and friendly manner, you will assist diverse customers issuing and receiving library materials. You will inform customers by phone and in-person of the many services the library provides; assist in locating books and publications; issue library cards; assist customers with various office machines; process reserves; shelving materials; and various other duties as assigned.

Qualifications: High school diploma or GED required. LTA Certificate or 2 year associates degree is preferred. Six months of public library experience is preferred in order to gain public contact experience and the knowledge of the circulation system, general office/library procedures, practices and computer terminal use. Any combination of education, training and experience, which produces the required knowledge, skills and abilities, may be accepted.

Skills and Abilities: Keyboard accuracy is important; MSOffice, Internet, and computer skills; knowledge of basic principles and practices of library science, technology, and management. Basic Mathematic skills used in handling money transactions. While performing the essential functions of this job the employee is frequently required to sit or stand for extended periods of time, speak and hear, push/pull carts, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

To Apply: Applications are available at the circulation desk during regular business hours 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Applications must be completed and then mailed, emailed, or dropped off c/o: Shelly Hamlin Rodrick Head of Circulation Services, Messenger Public Library of North Aurora, 113 Oak Street, North Aurora, Illinois 60542. No phone calls regarding this position please.

Filing Period: Applications may be accepted until final selection is made.

The Messenger Public Library of North Aurora Illinois is an Equal Employment, Equal Access Employer.

New Models for Library Service: Embracing Technology, Building Partnerships

Please join your colleagues for this exciting LACONI/RASS (Library Administrators Conference of Northern Illinois/Reference and Adult Services) fall symposium.

Date: Friday, November 20, 2009.
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Location: Addison Public Library, 4 Friendship Plaza, Addison, IL 60101

Changes in technology and patron behavior are providing many new opportunities to provide point-of-need service to entirely new audiences. This program aims to highlight some of the tools and partnerships that can be leveraged to create an even greater connection with your community.

Featured speakers:

• Jonathan Bullington, Triblocal, discussing hyperlocal media as an opportunity for libraries throughout the area.
• Lynn Dennis, Roselle Public Library, providing a demonstration of the Roselle Library Ning network, and showing how social tools can be used for facilitating conversation and building stronger ties with your public.
• Toby Greenwalt, Skokie Public Library, offering a brief overview of current trends in making library services more useful for mobile devices.
• Bill Pardue, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, exploring the how social media tools like Twitter and Facebook provide multiple opportunities for librarians to provide active reference.

Registration for this program is free. RSVP by email to RoseAnn Vonesh, or by phone at 708/452-3465.

See the LACONI/RASS program flier for more information.

Basic and Advanced Serials Cataloging Workshop

Basic Serials Cataloging workshop and Advanced Serials Cataloging workshop will be offered at INCOLSA (Indiana Cooperative Library Services Authority) in December.

Presenter: The SCCTP (Serials Cataloging Cooperative Training Program) workshops will be presented by Joseph Hinger, the Associate Director for Technical Services at St. John's University, Rittenberg Law Library, in Jamaica, New York. Mr. Hinger is a certified SCCTP trainer, authorized to train all 5 of the SCCTP Serials Cataloging workshops.

Basic Serials Cataloging
Date: Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: INCOLSA, Inc., 6202 Morenci Trail, Indianapolis, Indiana
Cost: $75 INCOLSA members, $115 non-members

The course is designed for those new to serials: beginning serials catalogers and technicians, and monograph catalogers working with serials. This course provides the basic principles of serials cataloging for original and copy cataloging for print serials. The course focuses on the elements contained in the CONSER standard record (CSR), including appropriate MARC 21 tagging, as well as problem-solving and decision-making relative to serials cataloging. The course does not provide instructions for the MARC 21 format for holding data, advanced serials cataloging, or cataloging of electronic and special kinds of serials. All materials are based on the CONSER standard record documentation, CONSER Editing Guide, and CONSER Cataloging Manual.

Please register at the INCOLSA website.

Advanced Serials Cataloging
Date: Thursday, December 3, 2009
Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: INCOLSA, Inc., 6202 Morenci Trail, Indianapolis, Indiana
Cost: $75 INCOLSA members, $115 non-members

The course is designed for people who have at least taken the Basic Serials Cataloging workshop or who have been active serials catalogers for more than one year and are familiar with MARC serials tagging and fundamental approaches to serials cataloging. While attendees who do not have this background in serials may find parts of the workshop useful, the instructor will not have sufficient time to review basic serials cataloging. The Advanced Serials Cataloging workshop is an in-depth course on the rules and practices applied to original cataloging of serials. However, there are no specific instructions for electronic serials included in this workshop. While the course focuses on printed serials, the instructions are applicable to serials in any format.

Course topics include:

• What is a serial in the revised scope of AACR2 and how do serials compare to monographs and integrating resources.
• An area-by-area approach to the cataloging of serials, including some of the more complex aspects: uniform titles, links, designations, and title transcription.
• Cataloging of special kinds of serials: supplements, commutations, reprints, microform reproductions, and conference publications.
• Major and minor changes, particularly what constitutes a major title change in the revised rules.
• Discussion of how serial records are used in libraries and displayed in library OPACs.

Please register at the INCLOSA website.

Still Time to Sign Up for LACONI Administrator's Section Program and Meeting

In The Mind of a Cyber Predator

Date: Friday, November 20, 2009
Location: Bensenville Public Library District
200 South Church Road Bensenville, IL 60106
630/766-4642

See previous blog post, and the program flier for more information.