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.

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.

Library Appreciation Nights with the Bulls

All library staff, trustees, family, and friends can purchase half price tickets for Chicago Bulls games held on Saturday, December 19 and December 26, 2009. Tickets regularly priced at $60 are available for only $30, and tickets regularly priced at $40 are available for only $20.

See the Library Appreciation Nights flier to order tickets. The form and payment must be received by the Chicago Bulls (by fax or mail only) no later than two weeks before the first game ordered. Please note that tickets are subject to availability and due to high demand, you are encouraged to fax or mail the completed form as soon as possible. Tickets will sell out.

LLAMA Webinars for Experienced Leaders

There is still time left to register for the Library Leadership and Management Association's (LLAMA) line-up of interactive webinars designed to meet the needs of experienced leaders and managers at the dean, director, department head, and branch manager level. Each of the 60 to 90 minute programs will feature library consultant Pat Wagner of Pattern Research.

"These short webinars provide materials drawn from many sources and offer an interdisciplinary approach to leadership topics with material from outside the library world that can help participants solve complex problems. Emphasis is on practical applications rather than academic models - how-to leadership above the basics that are provided in many leadership institutes," said Ms. Wagner.

Learn the Supervisor's Balancing Act - How You Can Bring Out the Best in Your Top People Without Micromanagement
Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Time: 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Make Your Library Dreams Come True - How You Can Use Project Management Techniques to Write a Strategic Plan
Date: Monday, November 16, 2009
Time: 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Registration for each webinar is $39 for LLAMA members and $49 for all others.
More information is available at the LLAMA website.

Chicago Nonprofit Leadership Series on Volunteer Management

The next Leadership Series session is titled: Making the Most of your Volunteers. If your organization is looking to initiate a new volunteer program, or enhance the success of an existing one, this session is not to be missed. It is intended for board members, executive directors, senior staff, and development staff.
Date: November 17, 2009
Time: 8 a.m. to 12 noon
Location: East Bank Club, River View Room, 500 North Kingsbury Street, Chicago, IL 60610
Cost: $110
Register for this session, and also get more information on the other sessions in this series.

Upcoming MLS Diversity Workshops

MLS (Metropolitan Library System) is offering three upcoming diversity workshops.

Providing Library Services to Arab Residents
Date: November 4, 2009
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Location: Maywood Public Library District

• Discover why some Arab residents may be hesitant to use library services -- what cultural values impact the way Arab residents view the public library?
• Discuss how to assess the needs of your Arab residents and design library services to meet those needs.
• Practice strategies for building strong relationships with Arab patrons.
• Explore other ways to increase library use by Arab residents.

Register on the Library Learning website.
See the event flier.

Understanding African American/White Culture
Date: Thursday, November 19, 2009
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Location: Tinley Park Public Library

• Examine the cultural differences between White American and African American cultures.
• Understand how these differences can lead to misunderstandings in interactions between White Americans and African American.
• Increase your ability to interact with African Americans in ways that build understanding and collaboration.
• Discuss how to assess the needs of this group and design library services to meet those needs.
• Practice strategies for building strong relationships with African American patrons.

Register at the Library Learning website.
See the event flier.

Understanding Mexican/Latin American Culture
Date: Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Location: Eisenhower Public Library District
Participants will increase their ability to serve community residents from Mexico and other Latin American countries. Seminar objectives include:

• Learn about the cultural values in Latin America that impact how the public library is viewed.
• Explore why some Latino residents may be hesitant to use library services.
• Discuss how to assess the needs of your Latino residents and design library services to meet those needs.
• Practice strategies for building strong relationships with Latino patrons.
• Learn strategies for increasing library use by Latino residents.

Register at the Library Learning website.
See the event flier.