A Message from Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White

As your Secretary of State and State Librarian, I have greatly enjoyed the close relationship I have fostered with libraries around the state. In these tough economic times, what you do is more important than ever, and I will continue to do everything within my power to support libraries statewide.

I want to take a moment to thank you for your involvement in an important road safety measure that has been well received by the public. In August of this year, my office announced the creation of the Emergency Contact Database, with registration being available through my office’s website at http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com.

This new program allows any individual who holds an Illinois driver’s license or identification card to voluntarily register their emergency contact numbers in the event they are ever involved in an emergency situation, such as a traffic crash, and unable to communicate directly with law enforcement. The information, once registered on the database, is stored securely so that it is only accessible by law enforcement via LEADS (Law Enforcement Agencies Data System).

In just three months, over 110,000 people have already registered their emergency contact information on the Secretary of State’s website. While I am pleased with the response we have received thus far from the public, I encourage all Illinois residents who have not already done so to sign up.

Individuals may enter information into the emergency contact database for up to two family members or friends, including addresses and phone numbers. The emergency contacts do not have to live in Illinois. They can reside outside of Illinois and even outside of the United States.

As you know, Illinois public libraries have been supplied with information cards for your circulation desks. If any resident doesn’t have a computer in his or her home, I encourage them to visit their local library and use the library’s Internet connection to register.

I want to continue to reach as many Illinoisans as possible. Should you wish to obtain more emergency contact database information cards to distribute to organizations to which you belong, or family members and friends, please contact Mary Riseling with my Programs and Policies Department.

Thank you for all that you do to serve the residents of your communities.

Oswego Public Library Address Change

Oswego Public Library's new facility is open at the following address:

Oswego Public Library District
1111 Reading Drive
Montgomery, IL 60538

Main Telephone: 630/554-3150

Circulation direct line: 630/978-1205

Adult Services direct line: 630/978-1024

Youth Services direct line: 630/978-1272

Libraries Changing Media Rental Options

Libraries are changing their media rental policies to adapt to trends and the needs of their patrons. This article from The Oakland Tribune, Hayward Libraries to Borrow Netflix Model, shows how libraries are looking at "no late fees" and other new rental policies.  

Interested in Hosting the Burnham Plan Exhibit?

For the past three months, the second floor of the Addison Public Library has housed an exhibit that informs patrons about Daniel Burnham's Plan of Chicago. The exhibit of ten 3x5 foot panels will soon be removed. The library's Public Relations Coordinator, Sally Schuster, tells DLS that the exhibit will soon be available to a library that can display an exhibit of this size. 

If your library would like to borrow this exhibit from the Addison Public Library, please contact Schuster at schuster@addisonlibrary.org. The borrowing library will need to arrange for transportation of the panels.

Heading to a Meeting? Don't Forget to Check L2!

Did you know that you can get information about any library in any regional library system on L2? Need directions? They are there! Looking for a telephone number or website? You can find it on L2! DLS, like many other systems, has made L2 THE PLACE for membership information!

So, don't forget to check that map and get directions, find a colleague's contact information, and discover more about the other libraries in the state.

L2: It's more than a website for continuing education! Discover the possibilities!

Preparing for the Flu? Here's a Toolkit to Help!

The New York State Library has posted a useful document for library staff members developing plans for preparing for a pandemic outbreak. Preparing for the Flu (Including 2009 H1N1 Flu): a Communication Toolkit for Public Libraries in New York State is based on a similar toolkit developed by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention for businesses and employers.

Public libraries are perfectly positioned to serve as the central role in disseminating H1N1 information to their communities. By using their websites, developing handouts, and providing useful reference services, public libraries can assist their communities in being proactive.

A previous DLS Here & Now blog post about the H1N1 Flu can be found under Swine Flu.

Another Look at Literacy

As a former English teacher and of course, as Pam Kramer, the librarian,  I am always intrigued when someone writes about literacy and how it has changed since I began --- a lot of years ago. There are so many different literacies to talk about. Therefore the appearance of Clive Thompson's comments on the New Literacy from Wired Magazine, recently referenced in American Libraries Direct, really caught my attention.  As a new school year is beginning are teachers, professors, and parents all complaining about how kids can't write? Are we bemoaning too much testing and rote learning?  Is an age of illiteracy at hand when it comes to student writing?

 Andrea Lunsford, a professor of writing and rhetoric at Stanford University has organized a project called the Stanford Study of Writing to look at college students' prose. Among the things she learned was that students did 38% of their writing out of the classroom. "Life writing" she calls it.  She also discovered that students want to write for an audience. That is quite different from what I did in college and when I taught.  I am sure that many of you remember those three paragraph themes or 500 word essays on topics that you really didn't care one whit about, but that you grudgingly did for a grade. She also "didn't find a single example of texting speech in an academic paper." Clive Thompson concludes "We think of writing as either good or bad. What today's young people know is that knowing who you're writing for and why your'e writing might be the most crucial factor of all." Read the entire column in Wired Magazine.

2009 Illinois Election Workshop

Preparing for a 2010 Election.

If you are considering placing a tax measure on the spring ballot, it's time to get your game plan in place. Even if you are considering a November 2010 election, there are many critical public policy tasks that you need to be tackling right now if you plan to realize success at the polls next year. This workshop is highly interactive and draws from case studies involving school districts, municipalities, counties, special districts, and community colleges. The focus is on what it takes to pass bond issues and operating measures, even in communities with a fiscally conservative, aging electorate.

This is a free workshop. Space is limited. Register at the George K. Baum and Company website, or call Cathy Channing at 800/722-1670.

The workshop will be repeated at 3 locations:
South Holland
Date: Thursday, September 17, 2009
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Location: South Suburban College
15800 South State Street
South Holland, IL 60473-1270
Board Room

Glen Ellyn
Date: Thursday, September 17, 2009
Time: 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: College of DuPage
425 Fawell Boulevard
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
Tech Building - Room 1038 B

Grayslake
Date: Friday, September 18, 2009
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Location: College of Lake County
19351 West Washington Street
Grayslake, IL 60030
Conference Center - Room C 003

Coming to DLS? Expect Construction Along The Way

As usual, construction continues to plague those coming to the DuPage Library System for meetings. With so many wonderful meetings scheduled, here's an update on construction projects near DLS in Geneva.

Goodbye to Two Librarians Who Made a Difference in Illinois

This is a sad time for libraries, especially in Illinois. No, not because of the economy. Because we have lost two men who were involved in the historic conception of what are today’s regional library systems.