RAILS Member Announcements
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Planning for RDA - Four Week e-Course Begins April 1, 2013
Submitted by Renee Anderson on Fri, 02/15/2013 - 1:11pm
Planning and Preparing for RDA: Resource Description and Access
Facilitated by Magda El-Sherbini
4-week eCourse Beginning Monday, April 1, 2013
There are already many catalog records "in the wild" that are compliant with RDA: Resource Description and Access. Now is the perfect time for anyone involved in cataloging and technical services to prepare and put plans in place for implementing RDA. An active participant in development of the RDA instructions, El-Sherbini will lead this 4-week, asynchronous eCourse to help you get started.
After taking this course you will be able to:
- Explain the conceptual difference between AACR2 and RDA
- Craft cataloging policies and procedures
- Create a staff training plan
- Draft an RDA implementation plan
- Craft strategies for communicating about RDA throughout the library
Magda El-Sherbini is Head of The Ohio State University Libraries' Cataloging Department where she oversees cataloging activities. She supervises the four cataloging units as well as four faculty members and their staffs. She also serves on many library committees and is the author of numerous library publications. She served as a member of the ALA RDA Advisory Board, addressing issues and testing the product.
More information is available from the ALA Store.
REACHING FORWARD CONFERENCE - May 3, 2013
Submitted by Paula Pena on Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:47amReaching Forward is a professional development conference for library staff. The mission is to provide opportunities for those attending to grow, learn and connect with new ideas. This conference will be held on Friday, May 3, 2013 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention in Rosemont, Illinois. Online registration is now availab at http://reachingforward.net/
Forms for nominations for the Oberman/Rich Award and the Doyle Award can also be submitted online at http://reachingforward.net/conference/awards/. These nominations can be submitted by managers, supervisors, co-workers or self.
The Oberman/Rich award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated personal and professional growth to advance themselves to a position of leadership within their own library, library system, the Illinois Library Association, or the library community at large. This individual has made a significant impact on the support staff working in Illinois libraries. The nominee must be a support staff member working in any type of library without an advanced degree in library science. The recipient(s) will receive free registration to the current year Reaching Forward Conference, an overnight stay at the Reaching Forward conference hotel, $50 for expenses, and a framed certificate.
The Doyle award was established in 1999 in honor of Robert P. Doyle, Illinois Library Association Executive Director, who has been instrumental in the support of library assistants. The recipient will receive a one-year ILA membership and full registration plus expenses to the annual ILA Conference, not to exceed $800. This award is open to all support staff working in all types of libraries. Please submit a letter of one page or less in length that explains “Why I (or my nominee) would like to attend the ILA Annual Conference and how it would affect my (or his/her) personal and professional growth.”
Dictionary Stands
Submitted by 5133 on Mon, 02/04/2013 - 4:11pm
Graphic novel racks
Submitted by Diana Dillinger on Thu, 02/14/2013 - 1:54pm
LACONI Circulation Services Section Program - March 21, 2013 @ Oak Park
Submitted by Paula Pena on Thu, 02/14/2013 - 1:48pmLACONI Circulation Services Section presents.....
Advancing the user experience:
How libraries today are changing for the better.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Oak Park Public Library
834 Lake Street
Oak Park, IL
9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Libraries today are changing faster than ever. Join us for an opportunity to explore how libraries are following retail, hospitality, and museum models to deliver a better experience for the customer. Learn how this impacts YOU and what this means for the future of front line services.
Cost is $15.00 for LACONI members, $20.00 for non-members. Late payment is $25.00 at the door as space allows. Registration is due by Thursday, March 14, 2013.
Registration form, payment information and agenda is available on the LACONI website at www.laconi.net
Algonquin Area Public Library began 1,001 Books Before Kindergarten
Submitted by Amy Vracar on Thu, 02/14/2013 - 12:28pmLiteracy is one of the greatest gifts a parent can give a child, and learning the skills needed for reading and writing begins at infancy into childhood.
On January 7, the Algonquin Area Public Library District began its 1,001 Books Before Kindergarten program. 163 participants registered for the program during the first week!
1,001 Books Before Kindergarten is a reading program for families with children from birth through age 5. It was designed to get parents actively involved in reading to their children from birth and help foster a lifelong love of reading as children gain pre-literacy skills.
Parents register their children for the program with their Algonquin Area Public Library card at the Youth Services Desk. At registration, families receive information about the program and the Library, the children's collection and recommended reads, early literacy skills and early literacy practices, and a book log for the first 100 titles recorded in 1,001 Books Before Kindergarten.
After each set of 100 books are read and logged, parents and children return to the Youth Services Desk to pick up a prize and pages for the next 100 books and receive additional information about upcoming events.
When 1,001 books are reached, each child will get a graduation ceremony, a book, and his or her picture on the Library's wall of stars. The Algonquin Area Public Library District anticipates their first graduation ceremony to be this August, 2013.
1,001 books read over the years makes reading together a special time and becomes part of a daily routine. Every time a parent reads a book to a child, it counts in this program, and there will be favorite books children will want to hear over and over again. It is truly about having fun and enjoying the adventure along the way!
Waukegan Library is a National Medal for Museum and Library Service finalist
Submitted by Rena Morrow on Thu, 02/14/2013 - 11:20amThe Institute of Museum and Library Services today announced the Waukegan Public Library as a National Medal for Museum and Library Service finalist. The National Medal is the nation’s highest honor conferred on museums and libraries for service to the community and celebrates institutions that make a difference for individuals, families, and communities.
Medal finalists are selected from nationwide nominations of institutions that demonstrate innovative approaches to public service, exceeding the expected levels of community outreach. This year’s finalists exemplify the nation’s great diversity of libraries and museums and include an aquarium and marine science center foundation, conservatory and botanical gardens, county library systems, individual libraries, children’s museums, an art museum, science centers, and more, hailing from across the country.
“Museums and libraries serve as community gathering places and centers for lifelong learning, and we are very proud to announce Waukegan Public Library as a finalist for the 2013 National Medal,” said Susan Hildreth, director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. “This year’s finalists exemplify the many wonderful ways museums and libraries can respond to the needs and wants of the communities they serve.”
In the award application, the Waukegan Public Library stated that while it still maintains its collection of books and digital resources, it also provides continuing education to patrons of all ages and economic strata. “The Waukegan Public Library is uniquely positioned to assist residents in reaching their personal goals,” said Richard Lee, executive director of the Waukegan Public Library. “It is a great honor to be recognized for our hard work.”
Some of the unique free services and programs at the library include the Early Learning Center, a hands-on children’s museum that tackles pre-literacy needs among Waukegan children from birth to age seven, and Spanish literacy programs such as Conversational English, Leamos, Spanish Pre-GED, and the HACES Citizenship Preparation program. In addition, the library offers adult basic skills classes including reading, writing, and math tutoring, computer classes, and a job search and resume help lab. To fund these program and service initiatives, the library relies heavily on sponsorships, donations, and grants since tax revenue dollars are used to support traditional library services, including the library’s 220,000 item collection of books, music, and movies.
“The Waukegan Public Library has made meeting the personal development needs of our citizenry a top priority. Our staff members work tirelessly in the development, execution, and delivery of a wide variety of programming designed to uplift and enlighten one patron at a time,” said Charmaine Harris, Waukegan Public Library board president and Waukegan High School principal.
In addition to the National Medal, the library was recently awarded the Public Library Association’s Upstart Innovation Award. Sponsored by Upstart, a Demco Company, the award recognizes a library’s achievement in planning and implementing an innovative program or service that has a measurable impact on its users. This year, the library won for its “Bus to Us” field trip program, which brings thousands of elementary school children to the library for engaging, curriculum-guided visits. The program not only provides significant educational opportunity, but also improves awareness of the library and its services.
IMLS is encouraging community members who have visited the Waukegan Public Library to share their story on the IMLS Facebook page, www.facebook.com/USIMLS. Visit the IMLS Facebook page to learn more about how these institutions make an impact. National Medal for Museum and Library Service winners will be announced this spring.
To Share Your Story, please visit www.facebook.com/USIMLS. To learn more about the 2013 National Medal finalists, visit www.imls.gov/medals.
West Chicago Staff In-Service Training Focuses on the Library of the Future
Submitted by Shelley Campbell on Wed, 02/13/2013 - 5:36pmThe library of the future was the topic of conversation at a recent staff in-service training day at the West Chicago Public Library District. Administrative Librarian Melody E. Coleman designed an agenda that covered several aspects of library services and programming for the 21st century, presented by various Library staff members, as well as safety and security issues presented by the West Chicago Police Department.
Another central part of the day’s agenda was covered by the newly hired firm of Dewberry Architects, Inc., the Library’s space utilization consultants. After approving a new five-year Strategic Plan for the Library at their November Board meeting, the Board of Library Trustees moved swiftly to engage the space consultants to help set the tone for strategic initiatives at the Library moving forward. Representatives from Dewberry surveyed Library staff regarding their visions of library services in the future to gather additional perspective for their plans. This survey follows Dewberry’s presentation and fact-finding at a Board Retreat held in January.
“We are excited about the possibilities our new Strategic Plan offers for continuing to provide responsive and innovative 21st century library services to our patrons,” said Coleman. “Today’s in-service staff training program helped hone our vision for our library in the future and provided our staff with some wonderful learning opportunities.”
Staff in-service training is held at the West Chicago Public Library District three times annually, closing the library for the day on February 8 in order to offer staff with unique and timely training. The Library re-opened for business at its regular time at 9 am on Saturday, February 9.
West Chicago Library Friends to Hold Book Sale March 8 and 9
Submitted by Shelley Campbell on Wed, 02/13/2013 - 5:28pmDonations are being accepted at the West Chicago Public Library District for the Friends of the Library annual book sale. The sale will be held in the Library program room from 9 am-4 pm on Friday and Saturday, March 8 and 9.
People are encouraged to donate new or gently used books, movies on DVD or Blue Ray, and audiobooks to the West Chicago Public Library District during normal business hours. Donations of new or gently used children’s books are especially encouraged. Receipts for donations are provided.
Proceeds from the annual book sale are used to support special library purchases and events. Residents are encouraged to join the Friends organization by March 1 in order to take advantage of a special Book Sale Preview from 7-8 pm Thursday, March 7.
For more information about the sale or Friends of the Library membership, visit the Library during normal business hours, or call the Library at (630) 231-1552 or the Friends at (630) 777-5518.
West Chicago Public Library District Awarded "Muslim Journeys Bookshelf"
Submitted by Shelley Campbell on Wed, 02/13/2013 - 5:23pmThe National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has announced that the West Chicago Public Library District is among 842 libraries and state humanities councils in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to be awarded the Muslim Journeys Bookshelf, a collection of books, films, and other resources intended to introduce the public to the complex history and culture of Muslims in the United States and around the world.
Developed by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association (ALA) based on the advice of scholars, librarians, and other public programming experts, the Muslim Journeys Bookshelf is meant to address both the need and desire of the American public for trustworthy and accessible resources about Muslim beliefs and practices and the cultural heritage associated with Islamic civilizations. As a participating library, West Chicago will receive 25 books, 3 films, and access for one year to Oxford Islamic Studies Online.
The first in a planned series of Bridging Cultures “Bookshelves,” the Muslim Journeys Bookshelf project is a leading effort in NEH’s Bridging Cultures initiative, which has highlighted the importance of civility in American life and embraced the role of libraries in fostering community conversations that bring the humanities to the public in new ways.
“We take great pride in our Library as a ‘community center’ for public discourse,” says Administrative Librarian Melody E. Coleman. “This award aligns with the Library’s mission and vision to offer materials and services that engage individuals of every cultural background and provide Library patrons the opportunity to enjoy an intellectually and culturally rich experience,” she added.
Support for the development and distribution of the Muslim Journeys Bookshelf was provided by a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York, with additional support for the arts and media components from the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art.
