ISL Announces Synergy 2010 Applications Available

Synergy: The Illinois Library Leadership Initiative 2010 is the statewide library community's proactive movement to recruit and nurture future Illinois library leaders. Librarians selected to participate in Synergy 2010 will commit to a yearlong process, beginning with the first session at Starved Rock Lodge and Conference Center through intersession activities and ending with the session at the Hickory Ridge Marriott Conference Hotel.

Information and applications for Synergy 2010: the Illinois Library Leadership Initiative, are available on the Webjunction Illinois website.

As seen in the July 31, 2009 e-newsletter, This Week at the Illinois State Library.

Attention, All You One Book, One Community Program Planners!

Random House, Inc. has recently published their One Book, One Community Resource featuring recommended titles for One Book, One Community Programs. The publication features their newest well suited titles as well as their backlist titles. Interested library staff can download a copy from the Random House website or request a print copy by email.

As seen in the July 2009 Libraries@Random e-newsletter.

DLS Marketing Roundtable: Sharing Ideas to Better Serve

With the goal of better serving and informing patrons, the July 2009 Marketing Roundtable participants shared ideas for communicating with library users via newsletters. The topic, suggested by Geneva Public Library District's Jamie Weaver, touched on both print and electronic newsletters.

Jane Plass, DLS Director of Network Services, shared a handout of email marketing resources explaining the advantages of using an email marketing service and describing some of the various services offered. She also provided useful information and tips for electronic communications.

Susan Westgate from Bartlett Public Library District shared recent copies of her library's newsletter and explained how the color schemes were chosen.

Batavia Public Library District's Michele Martzel discussed the library's e-newsletter called Wired, that is available on the library's website and distributed via email. Renee Anderson from DLS, commented that she anticipates reading the newsletter and looking at Batavia's "photo of the month" in each edition.

In addition to sharing marketing and promotional ideas, the roundtable is also a place where DLS members can come together to inspire others by discussing how to promote new products and services. Geneva PLD's Weaver spoke about the library's new Reference by Appointment service. She related her recent experience of assisting a job seeker who made an appointment with her prior to a job interview. Weaver said the patron was very appreciative when she taught him new marketable computer skills to help him prepare for the interview.  

The Marketing Group looks forward to holding its fall meeting at the new Sugar Grove Public Library District. More information will follow.

To stay informed about a wide range of library topics, subscribe to the DLS email lists. Select the topics you are interested in and DLS will keep you well informed!

Thank you to Messenger Public Library of North Aurora for hosting the meeting and to Library Administrator Kevin Davis for providing an informative tour of the library. 

Photos on Flickr

Pictured above: Jamie Weaver explains her library's new Reference by Appointment service.

For more information about the Marketing Group, contact Renee Anderson.

New Adult Services Dept. Head at Messenger PL of North Aurora

Jessie Affelder, a resident of Batavia, Illinois, will begin work on Monday, August 3, 2009 as the new Head of Adult Services for the Messenger Public Library of North Aurora. Jessie has worked in a variety of public libraries in the Chicago and Indiana area for the past nineteen years, including the Westchester and LaPorte County Public Libraries in Indiana as well as the Elmhurst, Beecher, and Aurora Public Libraries in Illinois.

She holds an MLS from Dominican University, MFA/BA degrees from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago as well as a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Illinois – Chicago. Her outside interests include: genealogy, local history, theater, playwriting, fine arts, video, marketing, and web design. The board, management team and staff of the Messenger Library encourage all DLS member libraries to welcome Jessie to the North Aurora and DLS community. 

Submitted by Messenger Public Library of North Aurora. 

Keynote from Handheld Librarian Online Conference

Keynote speaker Gerry McKiernan of Iowa State University Library presented an overview entitled Current Mobile Trends in Libraries at the first ever Handheld Librarian Online Conference on July 30, 2009.  The PowerPoint slides for this presentation contain extensive information, and are available at:  http://www.public.iastate.edu/~gerrymck/M-Is-For-Service.ppt. Gerry's blog, Mobile Libraries, can be accessed at http://mobile-libraries.blogspot.com/.

Enhancing Literacy Second Annual Conference

Enhancing Literacy: Meeting the Needs of K-12 English Language Learners Second Annual Conference

Sponsored By: National-Louis University's (NLU) Reading & Language Department and Fox Valley Reading Council
Date: October 8 and 9, 2009
Location: National-Louis University, Lisle Campus
Conference Website and Registration: http://www.nl.edu/ELL_literacy/index.html

Planned Program: October 8
Morning Keynote: Dr. Luis Moll, author and researcher
Afternoon Breakout Session Topics

• Follow-up conversations with Luis Moll.
• Home school connections.
• Cultural differences in educational expectations.
• Working with ELLs (English Language Learners) in the general education classroom.
• Using children's books on tape as an extension of the classroom.
• Community outreach.
• NLU's Spanish-language "Americas" collection of literature for grades K -12.
• Using technology with ELLs.
• Partnerships between ELL and classroom teachers.

Planned Program: October 9
Morning Institutes

• Best practices for literacy instruction with ELL students in grades K-5.
• Best practices for literacy instruction with ELL students in grades 6-12.
• The power of literature (PreK-12) with potentially relevant cultural themes in Spanish and English.
• Knowing our communities and families--gathering and teaching from a "Funds of Knowledge" perspective.

Afternoon keynote followed by book signings: Mr. Francisco X. Alarcón award winning children's book author/poet.

Register at the web page above or at:  http://www.nl.edu/continuingeducation.
(Go to the bottom of the page where the NLU Reading & Language Department/Fox Valley Conference is listed. When you register, an email address is required.)

Optional one semester hour of university course credit is also available. For credit, please fill out the "Graduate Registration Form" linked to the conference website along with an additional check (payable to National Louis University). Contact person: Ruth E. Quiroa.

Bartlett PL Catalog Unavailable July 31-August 5, 2009

The Bartlett Public Library District is migrating to a new integrated library system (ILS), Polaris, beginning July 31 through August 5, 2009. Because of this, the public catalog will not be available nor will library staff be able to access patron information during this time.

If you have questions or need more information, contact Mary Edelman, Head of Circulation, at 630/837-2958 or email her.

ILA Marketing Committee Seeks Public Relations Materials

The ILA (Illinois Library Association) Marketing Committee is gathering public relations materials (newsletters, brochures, summer reading logs, bookmarks, program fliers) from all types of libraries for attendees at view and take home at the 2009 Inspiration Station at the ILA Conference.

To submit materials for the Inspiration Station please send at least 30 copies of your materials by October 2, 2009 to: Alissa Williams, Pekin Public Library, 301 South Fourth Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

Missing Book: College Reading Volume 4

The following book was shipped on July 15, 2009 from Wheaton College to Glen Ellyn Public Library, but was never received.

College Reading, Volume 4, Advanced
Authors: Cheryl Benz and Cynthia M. Schuemann
Call Number: 428.0076 C686b

If found please return to Wheaton College.

July/August Editon of DLS e-News is Online

The July/August edition of DLS e-News is available online. Learn who this year's scholarship recipients are, as well as information on the speaker and entertainment for the 3rd Annual Scholarship Dinner. You can also glean information on how DLS libraries are going green, what DLS library was named among the "best and brightest" to work for, and how libraries are featuring customer testimonials to demonstrate their value.

Be sure to subscribe to the DLS announcements email list to receive a notice when the next issue of DLS e-News is available.

You can also subscribe to email alerts of DLS blog posts, or an RSS feed from our blog.

View the July/August Edtion of DLS e-News

Send information for DLS e-News to dlsnews@dupagels.lib.il.us.