DuPage Library System Here & Now

Alexander J. Skrzypek Award

Mary Clapp — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:44:11 -0600

Do you know anyone who has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of library services for the blind or physically disabled in Illinois? The ILA (Illinois Library Association) Awards Committee is seeking nominations for the Alexander J. Skrzypek Award which is sponsored by the Illinois State Library Talking Book and Braille Service. Look around at your colleagues, library boards, or consultants and nominate someone who has gone above and beyond to bring services to the blind and physically disabled.

Please send nomination letters and supporting documentation to ILA, or nominate online at the ILA website. If you have any questions, please contact Sara McCambridge.

Give someone who has done an outstanding job a chance to get recognized by their peers.

Adult Services Supervisor

Mary Clapp — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:34:48 -0600

(Full time) Naperville Public Library is seeking an energetic Adult Services Supervisor for the 95th Street facility.

Prior supervisory/project/team management experience desirable. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and strong analytical and collaborative skills are critical. ALA accredited master of library science degree is required. Naperville Public Library is a ten-time HAPLAR #1 public library, received a 5 star rating by the Library Journal, and has been awarded "2009 Chicago’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For."

This position offers a competitive salary of $23.27 per hour, and includes the following benefits: medical, dental, IMRF retirement, and life insurance. For more information about this position and to apply, see the Naperville Public Library website.

Phone: 630/637-2227
Fax: 630/637-2237

Introducing the Snapshot Day Website

Renee Anderson — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:00:00 -0600

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, February 10 for the Snapshot: One Day in the Life of Illinois Libraries project.

The Snapshot Day website is now available and contains all the various documents to assist you in publicizing and organizing the day, reporting the results, and most importantly, using the collected information. Participants will gather valuable statistics, photos, and comments to establish or enhance your relationship with your elected officials, friends groups, board members, and other important stakeholders.

The site offers a large selection of resources and templates for you to customize for your library. Please contact ILA with questions about the website and Denise Zielinski, DLS Director of Informational Services with questions about the project.

DLS and NSLS Explore Cooperative Ventures

Renee Anderson — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:59:17 -0600

Below is a message that the DuPage and North Suburban Library Systems are releasing to inform the members about the joint meeting held on February 3, 2010. DLS will provide more information as it becomes available.

DLS and NSLS Meet to Explore New Cooperative Ventures

Representatives of the boards of the DuPage Library System (DLS) and the North Suburban Library System (NSLS) sat down together on February 3, 2010 to discuss ways in which the two systems might work together more closely.

Su Erickson, DLS President said, “We wanted to look at opportunities to both stretch scarce dollars and reinvent system services taking full advantage of newer ways of serving our members.”

Kathy Caudill, NSLS President noted, “The group was very open to considering a wide range of ideas, including simply merging some system services as well as the possibility of working with other regional library systems in the northern part of the state to create a consolidated, new mega system. After all, it has been 43 years since systems were created for public libraries. All nine of the regional library systems are now multi-type, and needs have changed. Thanks to the Internet and the ubiquity of personal computers, there are many new, exciting ways to cooperate that are not geographically dependent.”

Attendees at the group included other DLS board members, Joyce Fedeczko, Pam McDermott and Barb Siegman. Other NSLS board members in attendance included: Betsy Bartholomew and Noreen Lake. The Executive Directors of both systems also attended: Tom Sloan from DLS and Sarah Long from NSLS.

“It was an initial, exploratory meeting,” Erickson said. We see exciting possibilities but also recognized the many challenges that must be addressed if we decide to pursue new ways to collaborate and operate. Since systems are primarily funded by the state, and the state’s financial situation is so dire, we thought it was our responsibility to meet and look into our options. A follow up meeting is planned.”

For more information contact Tom Sloan at DLS at 630/232-8457 or Sarah Long at NSLS at 847/353-7125.

In the News

Renee Anderson — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:35:39 -0600

Sarah Long's recent column, published in the Daily Herald, commends the library world for communicating the importance of the Save Illinois Libraries campaign and demonstrates how libraries activated their social networks for the campaign.

Sugar Grove Library Forges On, from the Daily Herald, discusses the library's failed request for increased funds.

Voters Reject Winfield Library Request explains how voters did not approve a tax increase to improve handicapped accessibility.

Library Beat: Interview With Executive Director Tom Sloan

Renee Anderson — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:21:16 -0600

Be sure to take 15 minutes to listen to the recent Library Beat podcast. Sarah Long, Executive Director of North Suburban Library System, interviews Executive Director Tom Sloan.

Sloan shares his insight into the hallmarks of working together cooperatively, moving forward with technology, hands-on experiences with best practices, creating a meaningful message, the future of libraries and library systems, the concept of libraries as centers of creative activity, and so much more!

Glen Ellyn Public Library Creates Snapshot Video

Renee Anderson — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:18:25 -0600

The Glen Ellyn Public Library created a short 35 second video to promote the Snapshot project.

The video is featured on the library's YouTube channel. The library is also displaying the video on its homepage.

Tech Tidbit: New Report on Social Media Use Among Teens and Young Adults

Jane Plass — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:11:28 -0600

The Pew Research Center has released a report showing changing patterns of social media and mobile Internet use by teens and young adults. Data for older adults is also included for comparison. Blogging has declined among teens and young adults. Wireless connectivity and social networking have increased, although Twitter is not popular among teens. Both the summary of findings and the full report are available online.

How is your library responding to these changes?

Library Announces One Book, One Batavia 2010

Renee Anderson — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:37:24 -0600

Playing with the Enemy by Gary W. Moore is the 2010 One Book, One Batavia selection. Batavia Public Library District will offer a number of programs prior to the One Book, One Batavia grand finale March 18, 2010, when Moore will give two presentations at the library. The programs will be held during Books Between Bites at 12 noon, and again at 7 p.m.Tickets (free) are required for the evening presentation.

A complete list of programs and activities is available from the One Book, One Batavia website.

One Book, One Batavia is sponsored by the Friends of Batavia Public Library.

Congratulations Ellen Schmid, Geneva Public Library District

Renee Anderson — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:49:02 -0600

Congratulations to Ellen Schmid, Virtual Reference Librarian/Adult Services Reference Librarian at the Geneva Public Library District, on receiving the PLA Polaris Innovation in Technology Iliff Award. Schmid earned recognition for her development of an innovative and professional community outreach effort. The award is presented to a library or librarian for using technology and innovative thinking as a tool to improve services to public library users.

The Polaris Innovation in Technology award honors the life and accomplishments of John Iliff, early adopter and champion of technology in public libraries. Schmid will receive a $1,000 honorarium, a plaque, and a bouquet of roses.