In honor of Banned Books Week, our well-read research editor Sandy put together the following 12-question cultural-literacy test. The correct answers are after the jump — how bookish are you?
1. True or False: Two 1960s children’s books written by Dr. Seuss were later removed from print (and stricken from his bibliography) for questionable moral content.
2. Who is the hero of the popular book series by Dav Pilkey, which has been challenged for its “anti-family content”?
a. Wicked Wedgie Woman
b. Deputy Doo-Doo
c. Bionic Booger Boy
d. Captain Underpants
3. Ernst Zündel’s widely-banned book Did Six Million Really Die? questions whether or not what tragedy really occurred?
a. the AIDS epidemic
b. the Holocaust
c. the 2004 tsunami
d. the Great Leap Famine
4. Because the band members’ real blood was mixed with the ink, some shops refused to carry a 1977 Marvel comic book featuring what musicians?
a. KISS
b. Black Sabbath
c. Judas Priest
d. Styx
5. While nearly every library allowed the regular version, what book was rejected by many in its 1982 Reader’s Digest “condensed” version?
a. Gone with the Wind
b. The Bible
c. Mein Kampf
d. Of Mice and Men
6. True or False: Where’s Waldo? by Martin Hanford appeared on the American Library Association’s List of the “100 Most Frequently Challenged Books” from 1990-2000.
7. Why was an illustrated edition of Little Red Riding Hood banned in two California school districts in 1989?
a. wolf cross-dressing as grandma
b. little girl traveling alone in forest
c. little girl carrying wine to grandma
d. woodcutter attacks wolf with axe
8. What author claimed (perhaps with tongue-in-cheek) that his two most famous books were written “for adults exclusively” and that he was “distressed” when children were given access to them?
a. Mark Twain
b. Stephen King
c. Roald Dahl
d. Jack London
9. What oft-banned author made recent headlines when she had trouble boarding a plane with the only manuscript of her upcoming book?
a. J.K. Rowling
b. Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
c. Judy Blume
d. Lois Lowry
10. Characters from what animated TV show are featured in the book Stormy Weather, banned in some schools due to the use of the word “stupid”?
a. The Simpsons
b. Rugrats
c. Duckman
d. Futurama
11. Officials in many elementary schools challenged Helen Piers’ How to Take Care of Your Dog because it contained what word?
a. dam
b. stud
c. spay
d. bitch
12. What children’s classic was banned for several years (until a revised edition was published) due to a chatty parrot’s remarks that were determined to be racist?
a. Treasure Island
b. Kim
c. Doctor Dolittle
d. Kon-Tiki
And here are the answers…
1. answer: b. false
This untrue rumor spread quickly around the Internet in 2002; the books in question were not banned and were not even written by Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel.
2. answer: d. Captain Underpants
Pilkey, who was diagnosed with learning problems as a child, designed the books to draw the attention of kids who might not otherwise read.
3. answer: b. the Holocaust
His opinions landed him in jail in Canada for two years. He was deported to Germany in 2005 and is now serving time there.
4. answer: a. KISS
The group used the opportunity to garner lots of press for the comic book, which became Marvel’s biggest-seller ever.
5. answer: b. The Bible
This version removed about one-quarter of the text from the New Testament and more than half of the text from the Old Testament.
6. answer: a. true
The reason? A beach scene in Where’s Waldo? depicts a tiny image of a woman with an untied bikini top.
7. answer: c. little girl carrying wine
The image of a little girl with alcohol was apparently too much for the Culver City and Empire school districts to tolerate.
8. answer: a. Mark Twain
Twain wrote the above in a reply to a 1905 letter from a professor at Brooklyn College, whose library had removed Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer from the children’s shelves.
9. answer: a. J.K. Rowling
JFK Airport officials, following security procedures, finally reached a compromise that allowed her to bring the book on-board.
10. Answer: b. Rugrats
Young children might start calling each other “stupid” if their favorite TV characters do it, which doesn’t promote a good sense of self-worth.
11. Answer: d. bitch
“Bitch,” of course, is the standard term for a female dog which veterinarians and members of the American Kennel Club use regularly without flinching.
12. Answer: c. Doctor Dolittle
Doctor Dolittle was first published in 1920, and Polynesia the parrot uttered many phrases that, while un-PC today, were commonly used then.
How’d you do?
8-12 right: Ban-tastic! You win the Pulitzer Prize for Trivia Knowledge.
4-7 right: Good work — but we have a sneaking suspicion you skipped to the end of the quiz to see how it would turn out.
1-3 right: You just got caught reading the CliffsNotes — but that’s okay, we won’t ban you.
(From Mental Floss - Where Knowledge Junkies Get Their Fix - American Libraries Direct, September 29, 2010)
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Green Your Library With These Go Green Websites
Libraries have been on a green path for years. And like snowflakes, each one is unique with respect to their goals and the progress they’ve made toward them. Some libraries have already achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification while others are just forming their first green committee or team. But no mater where a library is on the continuum, thankfully there are lots of valuable resources and connections already in play available for any library staff member interested in learning more about this important issue.
Below is a list of some library web sites and blogs that I unearthed recently that you may want on check out. Please note that due to the current state of the economy, some of these are kept more up to date than others but that does not diminish each one’s value. There are precious nuggets of information in each and every one of them especially if you, like me, prefer not having to reinvent the wheel to set and subsequently accomplish your library’s green goals.
Going Green—This collection of information on environmental organizations, financial resources, green buildings, and green programs was formerly the green blog of Alliance Library System in East Peoria, Illinois. It’s now maintained by Suzanne Baschieri as a personal blog.
Green Stacks—the website of San Francisco Public Library’s Wallace Stegner Environmental Center. It includes green programming information, resources, interviews, and booklists in five languages.
West Vancouver (British Columbia) Memorial Library’s Sustainability Page highlights green commuting, programming, and the library’s sustainability-related efforts.
Eco-Action, Calgary (Alberta) Public Library’s green blog, covers a variety of topics, and many posts include recommendations of related resources.
Burbank (Calif.) Public Library Green Pages regularly features library and local events and resources.
(Laura Bruzas - American Libraries Direct, September 29, 2010)
Below is a list of some library web sites and blogs that I unearthed recently that you may want on check out. Please note that due to the current state of the economy, some of these are kept more up to date than others but that does not diminish each one’s value. There are precious nuggets of information in each and every one of them especially if you, like me, prefer not having to reinvent the wheel to set and subsequently accomplish your library’s green goals.
Going Green—This collection of information on environmental organizations, financial resources, green buildings, and green programs was formerly the green blog of Alliance Library System in East Peoria, Illinois. It’s now maintained by Suzanne Baschieri as a personal blog.
Green Stacks—the website of San Francisco Public Library’s Wallace Stegner Environmental Center. It includes green programming information, resources, interviews, and booklists in five languages.
West Vancouver (British Columbia) Memorial Library’s Sustainability Page highlights green commuting, programming, and the library’s sustainability-related efforts.
Eco-Action, Calgary (Alberta) Public Library’s green blog, covers a variety of topics, and many posts include recommendations of related resources.
Burbank (Calif.) Public Library Green Pages regularly features library and local events and resources.
(Laura Bruzas - American Libraries Direct, September 29, 2010)
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Project Gutenberg Titles Available From WPLC OverDrive Website
I’m happy to report that the collection of public domain EPUB eBooks is now ready for your patrons to enjoy from your OverDrive website!
Please note the following:
Please note the following:
- This is a separate collection of eBooks from your main OverDrive collection.
- The collection contains over 15,000 titles.
- Patrons do NOT need to sign in to download the titles.
- When a patron hovers over a book cover, the available metadata displays to them.
- Checkouts from the collection do not count against your regular checkout/lending options.
- Titles act like Always Available titles so there are unlimited simultaneous downloads but downloads do not expire.
- The collection of eBooks also uses the Adobe Digital Editions software your patrons are currently using.
- Please refer to the ‘tips’ link at the top of the introduction to the collection for instructions on how to download content.
- A report showing download statistics for the collection will be available via Content Reserve in the coming months.
- MARC records will not be available for these titles, however please use the web graphic below for your library’s OPAC to help promote Project Gutenberg eBooks at your Virtual Branch website.
(Kathy Schneider, WPLC) Travel to India @ the Abbotsford Public Library
Librarian Sue Vater Olsen will present photographs and stories from her travels in India at the Abbotsford Public Library - City Council Room on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
Vater Olsen traveled to the states of Andra, Pradesh, Karnataka with Rotary Foundation's Group Study Exchange (GSE) Program. Her presentation includes insights on culture, vocational visits, and family life.
This presentation is free to the public. Come learn about a faraway land and people. Refreshments will be served.
(Jane Medenwaldt, Director - Abbotsford Public Library
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
IRS: No More Tax Forms In the Mailbox
Electronic filing of tax returns has become so popular that the Internal Revenue Service will no longer automatically mail a traditional paper form.
"We're finding that more and more people are choosing to e-file, and the number of paper returns is going down," said IRS spokesman Anthony Burke. He told CNN Tuesday that the agency last year mailed the old-style set of paper forms, tables and instructions to just eight percent of the nation's taxpayers.
34Email Print Comment - The IRS hopes to save $10 million a year by not mailing out hardcopy documents.
Burke said 96 million taxpayers this year have filed electronically, with another 20 million filing through professional tax preparers. The IRS hopes to save $10 million a year by not automatically mailing the materials.
Those who prefer hardcopy documents can still find them at libraries, post offices and walk-in IRS offices around the country. After Jan. 1, they can request a mailing through the IRS toll-free number, 800-829-3676.
The materials will also be available to download and print out from the IRS website: http://www.irs.gov/
Some people may not miss the annual ritual of opening their mailbox and finding the dreaded reminder of tax time. Burke said the IRS "won't produce the package any more," as the agency transitions to providing software and other support for electronic filing.
Instead, in the next few weeks, those who filed traditional paperwork last year will get a simple postcard from the IRS, with instructions on how to obtain the documents needed to file a tax return.
(CNN Money.com, September 28, 2010 - By Paul Courson)
"We're finding that more and more people are choosing to e-file, and the number of paper returns is going down," said IRS spokesman Anthony Burke. He told CNN Tuesday that the agency last year mailed the old-style set of paper forms, tables and instructions to just eight percent of the nation's taxpayers.
34Email Print Comment - The IRS hopes to save $10 million a year by not mailing out hardcopy documents.
Burke said 96 million taxpayers this year have filed electronically, with another 20 million filing through professional tax preparers. The IRS hopes to save $10 million a year by not automatically mailing the materials.
Those who prefer hardcopy documents can still find them at libraries, post offices and walk-in IRS offices around the country. After Jan. 1, they can request a mailing through the IRS toll-free number, 800-829-3676.
The materials will also be available to download and print out from the IRS website: http://www.irs.gov/
Some people may not miss the annual ritual of opening their mailbox and finding the dreaded reminder of tax time. Burke said the IRS "won't produce the package any more," as the agency transitions to providing software and other support for electronic filing.
Instead, in the next few weeks, those who filed traditional paperwork last year will get a simple postcard from the IRS, with instructions on how to obtain the documents needed to file a tax return.
(CNN Money.com, September 28, 2010 - By Paul Courson)
Amazon Announces Kindle for the Web
Amazon has just announced a new Kindle service called Kindle for the Web, which allows Web sites to embed a preview of the first chapter of any Kindle book anywhere on the Web. Kindle for the Web is essentially a widget that can be emdeded on any Web site with a “Get Kindle Edition” button linking back to Amazon. The widget can be called up from enabled Kindle book pages on Amazon by clicking the “Read first chapter FREE” button and then embeded like a YouTube video using another button inside the widget. Here’s how AmazonEncore author Karen McQuestion is using the service on her blog.
So far, Amazon is only pitching this as a promotional tool to offer samples of Kindle books, but it’s a fairly small leap to imagine the service becoming a portal to “Kindle in the Cloud,” enabling Kindle customers to access their purchased libraries anywhere they have Internet access. If Amazon does offer that kind of access, it would have a considerable leg up when Google finally launches its browser-based Google Editions.
(Publisher's Weekly Morning Report, September 28, 2010 - Craig Morgan Teicher)
So far, Amazon is only pitching this as a promotional tool to offer samples of Kindle books, but it’s a fairly small leap to imagine the service becoming a portal to “Kindle in the Cloud,” enabling Kindle customers to access their purchased libraries anywhere they have Internet access. If Amazon does offer that kind of access, it would have a considerable leg up when Google finally launches its browser-based Google Editions.
(Publisher's Weekly Morning Report, September 28, 2010 - Craig Morgan Teicher)
Monday, September 27, 2010
Governor's Office Announces Appointments to COLAND
Governor Jim Doyle’s office recently announced one new appointment and six reappointments to the Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND). Created by the Wisconsin State Legislature in 1979, COLAND advises the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to ensure that all state citizens have access to library and information services. Council findings are communicated as advisory recommendations to the state superintendent, governor, and Legislature.
New member Ewa Barczyk of Milwaukee was appointed to a term expiring July 1, 2013. Michael Bahr of Germantown, Nita Burke of Darlington, Bob Koechley of Fitchburg, Sandra Melcher of Milwaukee, Annette Smith of Milton, and Kristi Williams were reappointed to terms also expiring July 1, 2013. Other members of COLAND are Barbara Arnold, Madison; Mary Bayorgeon, Appleton; Francis Cherney, Milladore; Miriam Erickson, Fish Creek; Catherine Hansen, Shorewood; Lisa Jewell, Madison; Douglas Lay, Suamico; Jessica MacPhail, Racine; Calvin Potter, Sheboygan Falls; Susan Reynolds, Cable; Lisa Sterrett, Viroqua, and Kris Adams Wendt, Rhinelander.
The 19-member council functions as a forum through which librarians and members of the public identify, study, and collect public testimony on issues affecting Wisconsin libraries and other information services. Members serve three-year terms. Membership includes ten professional members who represent various public and private libraries as well as library educators. The remaining nine council positions are held by public members with a demonstrated interest in libraries or other types of information services.
At their July meeting in Wausau, COLAND members approved a new slate of officers for the 2010- 2011 year. New officers are Miriam Erickson, Chair; Sandra Melcher, Vice Chair; and Annette Smith, Secretary.
(Channel, Summer 2010)
Friday, September 24, 2010
Wayne Bassett - Wisconsin Library Hall of Fame Inductee
Wayne Bassett (1915-1988)
Wayne Bassett has been selected to be inducted into the Wisconsin Library Hall of Fame on November 4, 2010 at the Wisconsin Library Association Conference in Wisconsin Dells. He served as Director of the Wausau Public Library from 1965 to 1974. When the Wausau Public Library merged with the Marathon County Library in 1974 to become the Marathon County Public Library, he served as Director of the merged library until his retirement in 1983. Concurrently (1965-1983), he served as the Director of what is now the Wisconsin Valley Library Service. Serving as the Wisconsin Library Association’s first Legislative Advocate from 1971 to 1979 he played an important role in the enactment of Wisconsin’s public library system law. Bassett received WLA’s Special Service Award in 1971 and served as President of WLA in 1976. He was named WLA’s Librarian of the Year in 1979. His life and service to the Wisconsin library community were recognized with a WLA Special Memorial Citation in 1988.
Under his leadership, the Wausau Public Library was named as WLA’s Library of the year in 1965. Bassett was instrumental in the establishment of the System and Resource Library Administrators’ Association of Wisconsin. He served as leader and/or member of numerous WLA and other statewide committees including the Library Development and Legislation Committee; the Library Services and Construction Act Review Committee; and the Legislative Council’s Special Committee on Library Laws. He was a member of the American Library Association.
Prior to coming to Wausau, Bassett graduated from the University of Minnesota (UM) with degrees in Political Science and Public Administration. He served in the U.S. Army in France during WWII. Returning home, he earned a library science degree from UM. After beginning his library career at the Fond du Lac (WI) Public Library, he served as the Director of the Worthington (MN) City Library, later the Nobles County Library, from 1949 to 1965. From 1954 to 1962 Bassett served in the Minnesota House of Representatives.
Under his leadership, the Wausau Public Library was named as WLA’s Library of the year in 1965. Bassett was instrumental in the establishment of the System and Resource Library Administrators’ Association of Wisconsin. He served as leader and/or member of numerous WLA and other statewide committees including the Library Development and Legislation Committee; the Library Services and Construction Act Review Committee; and the Legislative Council’s Special Committee on Library Laws. He was a member of the American Library Association.
Prior to coming to Wausau, Bassett graduated from the University of Minnesota (UM) with degrees in Political Science and Public Administration. He served in the U.S. Army in France during WWII. Returning home, he earned a library science degree from UM. After beginning his library career at the Fond du Lac (WI) Public Library, he served as the Director of the Worthington (MN) City Library, later the Nobles County Library, from 1949 to 1965. From 1954 to 1962 Bassett served in the Minnesota House of Representatives.
#followalibrary Day is October 1st
October 1st is Follow A Library Day on Twitter!
It’s an easy enough thing to participate in. The Follow a Library website suggests this: “Participating is very simple: tweet on October 1st what your favorite twittering library (or libraries) is (or are). Use in your tweet the hashtag (or keyword) #followalibrary.”
Simple stuff, right?
Why not push that idea 1-2 steps further, to get a bit more bang out of your buck? On Oct 1, do what the organizers suggest – ask your Twitter followers to tweet their favorite Twittering library, using the #followalibrary hashtag.
THEN, do three more things:
1. Using your library’s Twitter account, actually ASK FOR FOLLOWERS. It IS Follow A Library day, and all. Make sure to use the #gfollowalibrary hashtag.
2. Then ask your followers to retweet those posts. What’s that do? My library has 1427 followers… what if all of those followers retweeted those messages? And then shared what THEIR favorite library was with all those Twitter followers? Much better reach that way.
3. Then ask another question using the #followalibrary hashtag – ask “Why are we your favorite library?” Those responses have the potential to be pretty valuable! Use responses as sort of a “check-in” with your library patrons, and share them with staff. Is it what you expected? Listen to what your twitter followers say about you and your library!
OK – one more thing here. You’ve just asked your community to follow your library’s Twitter account on October 1st.
What are you going to do to SUSTAIN that growth on October 2nd?
(David Lee King Blog, September 23, 2010)
(David Lee King Blog, September 23, 2010)
BadgerLink Update Regarding Wisconsin Newspapers
The Wisconsin Newspaper Association (WNA) has notified the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) that Gannett has requested that the following newspapers which the company publishes be removed from the WNA/DPI online newspaper site.
- The Post-Crescent in Appleton
- The Reporter in Fond du Lac
- Green Bay Press-Gazette
- Herald Times Reporter in Manitowoc
- Marshfield News-Herald
- Oshkosh Northwestern
- Sheboygan Press
- Stevens Point Journal
- Wausau Daily Herald
- The Daily Tribune in Wisconsin Rapids
The change was due to an existing contract between Gannett and ProQuest that was in conflict with the services being provided. The following newspapers were removed from the WNA/DPI site as of September 20, 2010.
(David Sleasman, DPI-RLL)
Thursday, September 23, 2010
eBook Devices Cheat Sheet
What’s one of the most common questions I’ve received recently from OverDrive library partners regarding eBooks?
‘Is the Kindle compatible with the Adobe EPUB and PDF eBooks my library offers?’
The answer to that question is still, unfortunately, no. This always leads to the follow-up question:
‘Why isn’t the Kindle compatible?’
The short answer is that the Kindle does not currently support the Digital Rights Management (DRM) protection our publishers and suppliers require for Adobe EPUB and PDF eBooks offered through the OverDrive service. If you are interested in a clear and thorough explanation, take a look at Jason Griffey’s popular blog entry ‘eBooks, filetype, and DRM’. It’s a lengthy post, but a great read if you want to know the technical side of the answer.
So, let’s focus on what devices are compatible with Adobe EPUB and PDF eBooks offered through your ‘Virtual Branch’ website. For the most up-to-date list, always direct your patrons to the OverDrive Device Resource Center.
We have also heard it’s often difficult to direct a patron to the appropriate webpage when at the circulation or information desk. In addition to the continually updated Device Resource Center online, we have put together an eBook Devices Cheat Sheet (PDF) that you can print out and make available to staff inside your library. This handy reference tool will empower any library staff member to provide patrons with information on compatible eBook readers.
The Cheat Sheet outlines the Barnes & Noble nook, the Sony Reader, and the Kobo eReader. Keep in mind, it isn’t necessary to own or use an eBook reading device to enjoy eBooks. As we’ve listed on the Cheat Sheet, you can use your Windows PC or Mac computer or laptop with Adobe Digital Editions installed.
With the holiday shopping season quickly approaching, you will undoubtedly receive an increased number of questions about eBooks and eBook reading devices. Feel free to use the eBook Devices Cheat Sheet as a reference tool to assist in answering eBook device related questions. As new devices are tested, we’ll update the sheet and let you know when an updated version is available.
Megan Greer is a partner services associate for OverDrive.
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Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Speaking Up for Libraries
WLA is asking for your assistance on a very important election-year library advocacy project. It won’t take much of your time, and we’re doing the hard part!
If you haven’t already experienced them yourself, you’ve undoubtedly heard about cuts to library budgets throughout the nation at the city, county and state levels. These cuts are resulting in reductions in the number of staff, hours of operation, and branch and library closures. But more importantly, they are negatively impacting the ability of residents to access the information and resources they need.
To avoid drastic library cuts and reduction in access to information here in Wisconsin, where state officials are projecting at least a $2.7 billion deficit for the next biennium, we need your help. Over the next several weeks, we’ll share information that you can disseminate to library supporters in your community. These messages share a bit of information and ask them to “Speak Up for Libraries.”
We hope Wisconsin communities don’t experience the kinds of drastic cuts that have been reported nationwide, but sitting and hoping is not a course of action we can risk.
Libraries are vital community resources that continue to adapt to changing user needs and wants. These valuable public institutions are busier than ever, but we need your library supporters to speak up to secure our future.
We’re providing a series of advocacy messages that you can use in your community, available at http://www.wla.lib.wi.us/legis/speakup.htm. Tailor them to suit your needs, add your own statistics and make them resonate with your supporters – or use them as is. Please plan to share these messages with your local Friends of the library, trustees, and other library supporters in your community. Help them “Speak Up” for your library!
We’ll also email you a reminder message each week, featuring one or two messages to share. The first two weeks you’ll need to share two messages to get them all sent before the November election. (This week, share messages 1 and 2.)
If you have questions about this program, please contact one of us. Thank you for taking time to “Speak Up for Libraries!”
Mark Ibach, WLA LD&L Committee
SCLS Marketing & PR Coordinator
Lisa Strand, Executive Director
Wisconsin Library Association
4610 South Biltmore Lane, Suite 100
Madison, WI 53718
(608) 245-3640
(608) 245-3646
strand@scls.lib.wi.us
If you haven’t already experienced them yourself, you’ve undoubtedly heard about cuts to library budgets throughout the nation at the city, county and state levels. These cuts are resulting in reductions in the number of staff, hours of operation, and branch and library closures. But more importantly, they are negatively impacting the ability of residents to access the information and resources they need.
To avoid drastic library cuts and reduction in access to information here in Wisconsin, where state officials are projecting at least a $2.7 billion deficit for the next biennium, we need your help. Over the next several weeks, we’ll share information that you can disseminate to library supporters in your community. These messages share a bit of information and ask them to “Speak Up for Libraries.”
We hope Wisconsin communities don’t experience the kinds of drastic cuts that have been reported nationwide, but sitting and hoping is not a course of action we can risk.
Libraries are vital community resources that continue to adapt to changing user needs and wants. These valuable public institutions are busier than ever, but we need your library supporters to speak up to secure our future.
We’re providing a series of advocacy messages that you can use in your community, available at http://www.wla.lib.wi.us/legis/speakup.htm. Tailor them to suit your needs, add your own statistics and make them resonate with your supporters – or use them as is. Please plan to share these messages with your local Friends of the library, trustees, and other library supporters in your community. Help them “Speak Up” for your library!
We’ll also email you a reminder message each week, featuring one or two messages to share. The first two weeks you’ll need to share two messages to get them all sent before the November election. (This week, share messages 1 and 2.)
If you have questions about this program, please contact one of us. Thank you for taking time to “Speak Up for Libraries!”
Mark Ibach, WLA LD&L Committee
SCLS Marketing & PR Coordinator
Lisa Strand, Executive Director
Wisconsin Library Association
4610 South Biltmore Lane, Suite 100
Madison, WI 53718
(608) 245-3640
(608) 245-3646
strand@scls.lib.wi.us
Monday, September 20, 2010
ebooks: Libraries at the Tipping Point
ebooks: Libaries at the Tipping Point is an online conference that will explore how the book is changing in the digital world and how these changes are reshaping reading and borrowing habits. Offering keynote speeches, special tracks, and an exhibit area, this event will bring together librarians, technology experts, publishers, and vendors to envision an exciting role for libraries. Registration comes with full archive viewing. Exciting prizes will be available to conference attendees!
Highlights:
- Learn about best practices for library eBook collections
- Explorenew & evolving models for eBook content & delivery
- Connect with peers
- Win exciting prizes like an iPad or iPod Touch
(Library Journal, September, 2010)
Friday, September 17, 2010
Download an Updated Library Logo
Looking for an updated image to symbolize your library?
Download the free updated logo in 3 different sizes from the:
Public Library Funding and Technology Access Study Press Kit or http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/mediapresscenter/presskits/plftas10/index.cfm
(scroll to the bottom of the page).
The ALA Office for Research & Statistics commissioned an updated version of the standard generic human figure reading a book, and now every library is free to make use of it.
If you want to use the original National Library Symbol, it’s also free to download in both gif and jpg formats.
Other sources:
- The ‘M’ Word – Marketing Libraries: An Updated, Tech-Related, US Library Symbol
- National Library Symbol/Library Symbol Highway Sign
- Public Library Funding and Technology Access Study Press Kit
DOJ Offers Updated Compliance Outlines on Open Meetings, Public Records Laws
The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) has posted the 2010 version of the Open Meetings Compliance Guide and the Public Records Compliance Outline on its website:
Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen will be hosting free seminars across Wisconsin to promote public awareness of and compliance with the state’s open meetings and public records law. At each seminar, Van Hollen will be accompanied by assistant attorneys general who are experts in Wisconsin’s open meetings and public records laws.
Seminars will be held in Madison (Sept. 20), Milwaukee (Sept. 27) and Wausau (Oct. 5). Each seminar is scheduled for three hours. In addition, a statewide videoconference seminar will take place Oct. 12 with viewing sites in Green Bay, La Crosse, Rice Lake and Racine.
Each seminar is free and open to the public, though advance registration is required due to limited seating. Individuals are invited to register at the Wisconsin Department of Justice website at www.doj.state.wi.us. Registrants should provide their name, title, organization or agency, and identify the seminar they wish to attend. Additional information is available on the DOJ website.
Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen will be hosting free seminars across Wisconsin to promote public awareness of and compliance with the state’s open meetings and public records law. At each seminar, Van Hollen will be accompanied by assistant attorneys general who are experts in Wisconsin’s open meetings and public records laws.
Seminars will be held in Madison (Sept. 20), Milwaukee (Sept. 27) and Wausau (Oct. 5). Each seminar is scheduled for three hours. In addition, a statewide videoconference seminar will take place Oct. 12 with viewing sites in Green Bay, La Crosse, Rice Lake and Racine.
Each seminar is free and open to the public, though advance registration is required due to limited seating. Individuals are invited to register at the Wisconsin Department of Justice website at www.doj.state.wi.us. Registrants should provide their name, title, organization or agency, and identify the seminar they wish to attend. Additional information is available on the DOJ website.
Librarians Asked to Encourage Patrons to Complete LinkWISCONSIN Survey
In order to better understand specific broadband availability, needs, uses and barriers to adoption, LinkWISCONSIN is conducting a consumer survey. Households will be selected randomly to participate in the 10-12 minute telephone survey, but people can also visit the website and take the survey.www.link.wisconsin.gov/lwi/default.aspx?page=27.
To participate in the online consumer survey, go to
All individual responses, whether obtained through telephone or online survey, will remain confidential. Collectively, responses will provide important feedback as LinkWISCONSIN moves forward with the planning phase of this statewide project. Input will provide critical insights into how and why Wisconsinites use high-speed Internet, as well as what needs may exist within each community.
This quantitative study will be available to regional planning teams later this fall.
This quantitative study will be available to regional planning teams later this fall.
(SCLS Online Update, September 3, 2010)
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Free Online Course Materials From MIT
Just a quick announcement about some FREE Online Training opportunities from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
MIT OpenCourseWare: Free Online Course Materials can be found at: http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm
"Free Lecture Notes, Syllabus, Tutorials, Audio and Video from MIT professors. All Free. No registration."
(Site of the Day, September 16, 2010)
OverDrive Training Month Reminder
It's hard to believe OverDrive's Training Month is half over! Thank you to all who have participated thus far. We've had an unbelievable turn out and there's still room for more.
If you haven't taken a class yet, there are still openings in many sessions.
Register now at: http://www.overdrive.com/products/dlr/training.
For those of you who have already attended some sessions, you can sign up for more courses or manage your account by going to http://overdrive.com/products/dlr/training%20 and logging in to your account.
Remember, we're giving away an MP3 player at the end of each session, and also grand prizes to the libraries with the highest overall staff participation.
Don't miss your chance to win some awesome prizes and learn more about your library's OverDrive service.
OverDrive's Training Team - training@overdrive.com
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
OverDrive, cBooks and Libraries
Libraries are The Source for eBooks
It has been proven in the last few years -- now more than ever --how important a library is to a community. Libraries have met the challenge of staying relevant in a technology-dependent society, and have embraced the most recent hot topic: eBooks and eBook readers. Names like 'Sony® Reader' and 'Barnes & Noble nook®' have become part of everyday library lingo. Over the last year, OverDrive eBook circulation (Adobe EPUB and PDF) has grown an astounding 170%, making it the second most downloaded format by OverDrive users; closely trailing audiobooks. To help keep the momentum going, OverDrive is here to help your library expand the exposure of eBooks through the following FREE programs:
Project Gutenberg
Project Gutenberg offers more than 15,000 public domain eBooks to your OverDrive collection at no cost to your library. Patrons can download the DRM-free EPUB eBooks without waitlists or authentication. The eBooks can be read in any EPUB-compatible software and transferred to EPUB-capable devices. Project Gutenberg eBooks don't expire or count against a patron's checkout limit, and soon you will be able to count the checkouts in your circulation stats. To see Project Gutenberg at Boston Public Library's Virtual Branch website, visit http://bpl.lib.overdrive.com.
The Project Gutenberg collection is currently available to library partners with OverDrive eBooks in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Library eBook Accessibility Program (LEAP)
OverDrive's LEAP, provides accessible eBooks to qualified patrons. In partnership with Bookshare.org, OverDrive is providing print-disabled patrons access to 20 accessible eBooks every month for a full year at no cost to the library or the patron. More than 70,000 popular digital books, textbooks, newspapers, and magazines are available.
LEAP is currently available to library partners with OverDrive eBooks in the United States.
(OverDrive Digital Dispatch,September 15, 2010)
OverDrive's LEAP, provides accessible eBooks to qualified patrons. In partnership with Bookshare.org, OverDrive is providing print-disabled patrons access to 20 accessible eBooks every month for a full year at no cost to the library or the patron. More than 70,000 popular digital books, textbooks, newspapers, and magazines are available.
LEAP is currently available to library partners with OverDrive eBooks in the United States.
(OverDrive Digital Dispatch,September 15, 2010)
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Teen Read Week Registration - 2010
Teen Read Week registration closes one week from today! Here are five great reasons to visit http://www.ala.org/teenread today:
1) Teen Read Week registration is free! By registering, you are letting us know that teen literacy is a concern and you are willing to do something about it! Your registration helps YALSA know how many people participate in Teen Read Week and ensures that it will be an ongoing event.
2) Just by registering, you'll be entered into contests to win free books from Teen Read Week promotional partners Cinco Puntos, Carolrhoda Lab, and Viz Media. All registrants will receive a complimentary copy of TeenInk! And registration will also give you access to this year's theme-specific logo to use to promote Teen Read Week at your library
3) Once you've registered, YALSA has collected helpful online tools or you to plan and promote Teen Read Week @ your library: activity ideas relating to this year's theme, professional materials to help you plan, and publicity tools to get attention for your events.
4) We know you have something fabulous planned for Teen Read Week in your community. Tell us! We're collecting your plans at the YALSA Wiki, http://tinyurl.com/trw-mylibrary
5) Take a look at the official Books with Beat @ your library products from ALA Graphics! YALSA and ALA Graphics are offering posters, bookmarks, downloadables (including pamphlets and to promote Teen Read Week inside your library; ALA members get a 10 percent discount. If you'd like to receive TRW products in time for Teen Read Week using standard shipping, you'll need to order by Oct. 1, 2010. Products are available at http://www.alastore.ala.org/trw10.
Thank you for all you do to connect teens and books in your community!
-Stevie - Stephanie (Stevie) Kuenn, Communications Specialist
2010 WVLS Technology Seminar
2010 WVLS Technology Seminar
Invitation
Wisconsin Valley Library Service is hosting a technology seminar on Thursday September 23rd, 2010. The focus of this seminar will be on eBooks, eReaders, and their relevancy in libraries. Opportunities for open discussion and a question and answer session will be available. There will be short presentations on three of the most popular eReader brands: Amazon Kindle, Sony eReader, and Barnes&Noble Nook.
We have room for about thirty-five (35) guests and are initially reserving twenty-five (25) places for public libraries and ten (10) spaces for K-12 and higher education libraries. To give as many libraries access as possible, initial registration is limited to one (1) attendee per library as space allows. After Sept. 15th, any remaining places will be opened on a first come first serve basis until spaces are filled.
Snacks and beverages will be available, but lunch will be up to you. There are several excellent dining options within walking distance of the Venue.
There is no registration fee for this event. There will be a drawing for one or more prizes (to be determined) at the conclusion of the event. Some items in the possible prize list include eReaders, eBook vouchers, or mileage compensation.
ACTION: Directors, RSVP via email by Sept. 15th 2010 to Joshua Klingbeil –it.director@wvls.lib.wi.us– at Wisconsin Valley Library Service and let him know who will be attending from your library. After Sept. 15th, if there are any spots remaining, a second call will go out to fill them. Those spots will be filled first come first serve starting Sept. 16th.
Venue: UWSP Center for Leadership Excellence & Economic Development 200 Washington Street - Suite 100 Wausau, WI 54403
(Located across 1st St. from the Wausau Library)
(Located across 1st St. from the Wausau Library)
WVLS Offers College of DuPage Teleconferences and Workshops
College of DuPage Library Learning Network
Library Futures: Staying Ahead of the Curve 2010-2011
Teleconferences and workshops for library staff and professionals
WVLS has again subscribed to the College of DuPage Library Learning Network for the 2010-2011 season. All teleconferences are 90 minutes in length, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Each session counts as 1.5 contact hours for public library certification. The satellite coordinates and webcast info will be sent out about a week before each session. If you are unable to attend, a DVD copy of the online session will be available for borrowing. For more information, contact Beth Sillars, 715-261-7255 or sillars@wvls.lib.wi.us or go to: http://www.dupagepress.com/library-learning-network/
The following webinars will be available for WVLS members, staff, and trustees:
Date
|
Time
|
Program
|
Friday, Sept. 24, 2010
|
11: 00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
|
Libraries & the Mobile Technologies Landscape
|
Friday, Nov. 12, 2010
|
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
|
Redesigning Today's Public Services: Focus on Reference
|
Friday, Feb. 4, 2011
|
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
|
Free Content for Library Collections
|
Friday, April 8, 2011
|
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
|
Cataloging: New Perspectives
|
Friday, September 10, 2010
BadgerLink Adds Two New Interfaces From EBSCO
BadgerLink now has access to two new interfaces from EBSCO - the Science Reference Center and the History Reference Center.
The Science Reference Center interface includes:
• Browsing subjects as the main navigational theme of the interface.
• Six main science categories in premier locations: Applied Sciences, Earth Sciences, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Scientists and Space Sciences and Astronomy.• Science categories linked to a list of carefully-reviewed topics within the selected category.
• Topic selection that launches a database search producing highly-relevant results.
• Result List item refinements such as Date Range, Source Type, Title, Subject and other limiters.
• Reference Shelf links to the Dictionary, Science Experiments, Citation Help and a Research Guide.
• A Featured Science Topic of interest, which will be changed regularly.
History Reference Center interface includes:
The highlight of this interface is its subject browsing functionality. There are two main history areas that occupy the premier location on the main interface:
• U.S. History to direct researchers to a sub-menu of ten main U.S. History timeline periods.
• The U.S. History Timeline periods align to the Timeline Limiter available in the current EBSCOhost interface.
• Period selection takes users to a list of topics that fall within that time period.
• Topics include famous people, events and topics from the selected period. Topics were identified after careful review of curriculum standards, classroom study and important topics from the time period.
• Selection of a topic will conduct a search and return a highly-relevant Result List related to the topic. In some cases, the result list may only be a handful of records…but all will be highly relevant to the topic at hand.
• The updated EBSCOhost Result List allows researcher to further limit by Date Range, Source Type, Title, Subject and more.
• World History will direct researchers to a sub-menu of eleven main World History timeline periods which follow the same functionality as described for U.S. History.
For any questions or concerns, please contact BadgerLink Technical Support at http://dpi.wi.gov/rll/bl_sup.asp.
(David Sleasman, Wisconsin Resources for Libraries & Lifelong Learning)
BadgerLink is a project of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning. Its goal is to provide access to quality online information resources for Wisconsin residents in cooperation with the state's public, school, academic, and special libraries and Internet Service Providers.
WISCAT Update
Welcome back for another school year! Just wanted to remind you that if you suspended your WISCAT requests over the summer they will automatically start when your end date is up, there is nothing you have to do.
While you were away WISCAT made some changes. You will notice that it became a more virtual catalog and when you do a search you will see more online catalogs like WVLS - V-Cat.The WISCAT union catalog is still available just reduced in size. The union catalog had the holdings from the online catalogs and those were removed to eliminate duplication and make the catalog more up to date.
I used to say when you request an item, find a record that has the most holdings for that item, so that you would have a better chance of getting the material, that no longer applies with virtual catalogs.
When requesting material using the virtual catalogs, just select a record that has what your patron wants and make the request. WISCAT will search all the rest of the catalogs, both virtual and union for you behind the scenes, and add those lenders to your request.
Reference and Loan Library who is responsible for bringing and maintaining WISCAT, has changed their name to Resources for Libraries and Life Long Learning. RL&LL for short. RL&LL got WISCAT software to talk to OCLC/WorldCat software and now requests are automatically going to those libraries that use OCLC/WorldCat. I am not making requests for you on OCLC/WorldCat.
I want to remind you that if you do not want a request to go outside of WI/Minitex type in OS:N or NO OUT OF STATE in the Borrower box on your requests, otherwise with the new technology, it is possible for a request to be sent to Kansas or elsewhere in the United States.
If you would like a WISCAT training session this Fall, let me know. David Sleasman the coordinator for WISCAT has volunteered to do a workshop in person or online.
Have a good year and if you have any questions call me at 715-261-7254 or send an email to: lyoung2@wvls.lib.wi.us
(Leora Young - WVLS Interloan Coordinator.)
While you were away WISCAT made some changes. You will notice that it became a more virtual catalog and when you do a search you will see more online catalogs like WVLS - V-Cat.The WISCAT union catalog is still available just reduced in size. The union catalog had the holdings from the online catalogs and those were removed to eliminate duplication and make the catalog more up to date.
I used to say when you request an item, find a record that has the most holdings for that item, so that you would have a better chance of getting the material, that no longer applies with virtual catalogs.
When requesting material using the virtual catalogs, just select a record that has what your patron wants and make the request. WISCAT will search all the rest of the catalogs, both virtual and union for you behind the scenes, and add those lenders to your request.
Reference and Loan Library who is responsible for bringing and maintaining WISCAT, has changed their name to Resources for Libraries and Life Long Learning. RL&LL for short. RL&LL got WISCAT software to talk to OCLC/WorldCat software and now requests are automatically going to those libraries that use OCLC/WorldCat. I am not making requests for you on OCLC/WorldCat.
I want to remind you that if you do not want a request to go outside of WI/Minitex type in OS:N or NO OUT OF STATE in the Borrower box on your requests, otherwise with the new technology, it is possible for a request to be sent to Kansas or elsewhere in the United States.
If you would like a WISCAT training session this Fall, let me know. David Sleasman the coordinator for WISCAT has volunteered to do a workshop in person or online.
Have a good year and if you have any questions call me at 715-261-7254 or send an email to: lyoung2@wvls.lib.wi.us
(Leora Young - WVLS Interloan Coordinator.)
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