Emergency Succession Planning Webinar

Emergency Succession Planning Webinar 

November 2, 2010 (2:00 pm CST)

 

This webinar will last approximately one hour. Webinars are free of charge and registration is ONLY done on the day of the event on the WebEx server. No Passwords are Required.  For more information and to participate in the November 2 webinar, go to:

http://infopeople.org/training/webcasts/webcast_data/420/index.html

Succession planning is something that most of us think about as a long-term process with mid- to distant-future outcomes. But what happens when:

. your Assistant Director suddenly announces her early retirement, effective in two weeks?  

. a key department manager unexpectedly moves out of state? 

Succession planning is a form of risk management, and in order to be effective, particularly in an emergency situation, the process should start before you need it. During this interactive session, webinar participants will learn how to create an emergency succession plan for critical library positions, including being able to identify the positions for which such a plan is needed and being able to assess your library's risk of losing key staff.

To get the most out of this presentation, be sure to download handouts in advance and be prepared to work on a plan during the webinar. 

At the end of this one-hour webinar, attendees will have created an Emergency Succession Plan for one position. They will also be able to:

. define the steps needed to create an emergency succession plan.

. identify the positions for which an emergency succession plan is needed.

. create an emergency succession plan for a critical library position.

. assess the risk of losing key staff.

This webinar will be of interest to staff in all types of libraries, those involved in library leadership, library directors, human resources and training and development staff, and members of Boards of Trustees will benefit from this webinar.

Speaker: Paula Singer. Paula M. Singer, PhD, is owner and President of The Singer Group, a management consulting firm she founded in 1983. Her individualized approach and commitment to excellence have resulted in a track record of success with an impressive client list. With expertise in compensation, organization development, strategic planning, and change management, Paula brings a balance of broad perspective and specific focus to each project. During her over 20 years of consulting, Paula has effectively directed a wide range of compensation, classification, and organization development studies for clients in the public, private and  non-profit sectors. She works with clients in a highly interactive, collaborative way to deliver customized products tailored to each client's needs. 

If you are unable to attend the live event, you can access the archived version the day following the webinar. Check our archive listing at:

http://www.infopeople.org/training/webcasts/list/archived

B&N Intros Nookcolor Tablet, New Children's Titles

Approximately one year after introducing its first e-reading device, Barnes & Noble took a major step forward Tuesday with the introduction of the Nookcolor, a $249 tablet with a seven inch VividView Color Touchscreen. The addition of color to the e-reading device allowed B&N to officially announce Nook Kids, which in addition to 12,000 chapter books, will have 130 children’s picture books at launch with that number expected to double by the end of the year. Some of the children’s books will be enhanced e-books, featuring video and audio. A third part of the launch was the announcement of Nookdeveloper that will allow creators to develop “reading-centric” apps that will be sold through the Nook app store. Since the Nook runs on the Android platform, apps from the Android Market can be ported to the Nook, but Android Market apps will not automatically be sold through the Nook since B&N want to curate the store, company CEO William Lynch said.

Initial reaction to Nookcolor from the many publishers in attendance at B&N's New York headquarters was positive, with the addition of color and the price seen as the most exciting features. Color, the head of one children’s division said, “puts children’s publishers in the e-book game.”

The Nookcolor will begin shipping around November 19 and will be available for sale through all Barnes & Noble trade bookstores in late November along with the entire portfolio of Nook readers. The Nookcolor will also be sold in Walmart and Best Buy and B&N reached an agreement with Books-A-Million making Nookcolor the exclusive reading device at the nation’s third largest bookstore chain. BAM will sell all Nook devices in a dedicated display section at the store, and its e-bookstore will be powered by B&N. Terrance Finley, executive v-p Chief Merchandising Officer at BAM said, "we are delighted to be partnering with Barnes & Noble in the digital realm. We believe Nook is best in class and we look forward to bringing it to our customers chain-wide."

At launch, there will be 2 million (including free) e-books available for Nookcolor, with the “vast majority” priced at $9.99. Over 100 newspapers and magazine will also be available in full color. The Nookcolor weighs in at under 1 pound and is less than half-an-inch thick, attributes that B&N executives stressed make the tablet, which has Wi-Fi connectivity, very portable. With 8 gigabytes of memory, Nookcolor will run for about eight hours before needing a recharge and hold 6,000 e-books.

Other features include a social network, Nookfriends, that lets users connect with each other, and a LendMe app that enables Nookcolor users to share titles. Nookcolor also come with the free radio internet music service Pandora as well as a few games.

While B&N expects Nookcolor to be a very popular holiday item, Lynch said B&N has “no road map to ending” the E-Ink Nook, which Lynch said has sold over 1 million units. “There is still a segment” that want a plain black and white reading experience, Lynch said. The original Nook is set to receive a software upgrade in November.

Lynch said he doesn’t believe Nookcolor will cannibalize sales through B&N stores, but will rather be “accretive to Barnes & Noble overall. We expect to cannibalize other people’s physical books much more than ours,” he said.

(Jim Milliot - Publisher's Weekly Digital, October 27, 2010)

Want To Know More About eBooks, eReaders and Libraries

eBooks, eReaders, and Libraries

Wisconsin Valley Library Service has created a website with links to a wealth of information about eBooks, eReaders, and Libraries.  This site includes information helpful for patrons and library staff. 

Some of the things you will find are:

• A general overview about eBooks
• FAQs about using eBooks and eReaders
• A guide to the many eBook formats
• The link to the COSLA: eBook Feasibility Study for Public Libraries
• Comparisons and reviews of a variety of eReader devices
• A list of OverDrive compatible devices
• Lists of free eBook sources and paid sources
• How-to instructions on transferring OverDrive e-pub content to an eReader
• Various articles about library applications for eBooks and eReaders
• Links to the Sue Polanka eBook presentation from the WVLS Technology Summit
• Information on how to access the eBooks: Libraries at the Tipping Point on Demand conference.

To access this site go to:  http://wvls.lib.wi.us/ebooks.htm

If you have additional information about this topic that you would like to share with others, please e-mail me at ichristman@wvls.lib.wi.us.

The Ethics of Innovation Online Symposium - November 17, 2010

A discussion of ethics has been part of the professional landscape since 1903 when Mary Plummer, ALA President, presented the first code of ethics for librarians. Since then, the information services landscape has only become more challenging and complex.

Join OCLC and Library Journal on Wednesday, Nov 17th from 12:00-2 p.m. Central Standard Time for our second online symposium. We'll discuss the ways in which ethical considerations affect innovation, privacy issues and how libraries deliver services. From 2-3 p.m. we'll have a dedicated Twitter hour with the keynote speakers and librarian moderator.

There's no travel, no cost. Just insight.
Register today at www.oclc.org/innovation
(Library Journal, October 18, 2010)

Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets - Student Poetry Contest

Every year the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets (WFOP) sponsors a student poetry contest. We are trying to get more exposure and let more students know about the contest. We are hoping you could help by sending this notice on (with attachment) to your patrons and other libraries. The attachment is an 8.5 x 11 inch poster (PDF format) that can be printed and posted in the libraries.

We thank you for your help in distributing this information.  You can also find out more information about the contest and WFOP at wfop.org.
(Steve Tomasko and Jeanie Tomasko - WFOP Student Contest Coordinators)

ProgrammingLibrarian.org Gets a New Look

The American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office has debuted an updated look and enhanced features for its website, ProgrammingLibrarian.org. Designed for librarians who plan and present cultural programs and events, ProgrammingLibrarian.org is both a resource center and a community of librarians committed to bringing increased access to literature, music, contemporary issues, art, history, poetry, scholars, writers and musicians to their communities.

Programming tools recently added to ProgrammingLibrarian.org include:
· The Programming Librarian forum: Post and respond to questions about planning, promoting and executing all manner of library programs in the Programming Librarian forum.

· The PR Generator: Programming Librarian provides templates for fliers, bookmarks and postcards that can be easily customized with your own text, images and colors. After the design phase is complete, a print-ready PDF document is generated that can be taken to a local copy shop or printed in the library. Please note that you must be registered with Programming Librarian to use this feature.

Site updates, including new programming resources, job listings and grant opportunities, are available by subscribing to the monthly e-newsletter. To sign up, visit http://www.programminglibrarian.org/newsletter_signup.

ProgrammingLibrarian.org can also be found on Facebook, Twitter and Flickr.

Visit ProgrammingLibrarian.org to test drive these new features. Development of the site is funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Service to the ALA Public Programs Office, which fosters cultural programming as an essential part of library service in public, academic, school and special libraries. In keeping with that mission, ProgrammingLibrarian.org  offers librarians timely and valuable information to support libraries in the creation of high-quality cultural programs for their communities.

Successful library programming initiatives from the ALA Public Programs Office have included “Let’s Talk About It” reading and discussion series, traveling exhibitions, film discussion programs, the Great Stories CLUB, Live! @ your library and more. In 2002, the ALA Public Programs Office established the Cultural Communities Fund, an endowment to support all types of libraries as they bring communities together through cultural programming (www.ala.org/ccf). For more information about the ALA Public Programs Office, visit www.ala.org/publicprograms.
(American Libaries Direct, October 13, 2010)

Libraries Are Busier Than Ever

As part of the Wisconsin Library Association's efforts to spread library advocacy messages across the state, please share the following messages with your local Friends of the library, trustees, and other library supporters in your community. Help them “Speak Up” for your library! We hope you have a ready email list of such supporters to call on for this project - but also for future calls to action.

This week's advocacy message is "Libraries are Busier Than Ever."  Of course, use the messages in any order you wish and tailor them to suit your needs.

A  companion resource from the American Library Association is a free Frontline Advocacy Webinar on learning how to promote the value of libraries every day. The webinar shares valuable methods of integrating advocacy messages into everyday interactions with your many constituencies. It is scheduled for Friday, October 29, 1:00-2:15 p.m.

During this very busy time of year, thank you for taking time to “Speak Up for Libraries!”

(Lisa Strand, Executive Director - Wisconsin Library Association)

E-book Sales Jump 172% in August

While sales in the print trade segments shrank in August, e-book sales had another strong month, jumping 172.4%, to $39 million, according to the 14 publishers that report sales to the AAP’s monthly sales estimates.

For the year-to-date, e-book sales were up 192.9%, to $263 million. AAP said that of the approximately 19 publishers that report trade sales, revenue in the January to August period was $2.91 billion, making the $263 million e-book sales 9.0% of trade sales. At the end of 2009, e-book sales comprised 3.3% of trade sales. The mass market segment, where sales were down 14.3% in the first eight months of 2009, represented 15.1% of trade sales through August.
(Publishers Weekly Daily, October 14, 2010)

Celebrate Friends of Libraries Week

The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF) is coordinating the fifth annual National Friends of Libraries Week, October 17 - 23, 2010. The celebration offers a two-fold opportunity to celebrate. Friends groups can use the time to creatively promote their group in the community, to raise awareness, and to promote membership. The celebration also offers an excellent opportunity for the library staff and Board of Trustees to recognize the Friends for their help and support of the library.

“I encourage the whole nation to celebrate Friends of Libraries and the work they do. I’m convinced that the libraries are so much richer for the enthusiasm and expertise that the Friends bring to the Library,” said ALTAFF Executive Director Sally Gardner Reed. Libraries across the country can take advantage of the opportunity to honor their Friends of their Library and to promote and expand their membership in this valuable organization.

In a 2006 survey of members, 754 respondents reported raising more than $11 million dollars to support libraries with an average annual donation of more than $50,000. Eighty percent of respondents indicated they support their library through advocacy efforts with primary focus on local or municipal government and the general public. Friends also support their library by coordinating programs, volunteering in the library, promoting the library in the community, and advocating for libraries on the state and national level.

Friends groups, library Trustees, and library staff can access a variety of online resources to help them celebrate National Friends of Libraries Week. Materials available on the ALTAFF website include promotional ideas, editable publicity materials, camera ready bookmarks, ideas from past celebrations, and much more.
(Streams - News from Northern Waters, October 2010)

ALA Collaborates with DEMCO for National Gaming Day

The American Library Association (ALA) announced that DEMCO is partnering with ALA to help one lucky library level up its gaming program with a $5000 shopping spree! Here's the deal.

Libraries who are registered with ALA for National Gaming Day 2010 (NGD10) are eligible to submit an application to win the prize. During the NGD10 activities, take pictures, maybe get some video, talk with patrons to get ideas, etc. in order to show DEMCO the library's vision for a next-level gaming program for the community. Planning ahead and thinking big will likely be one of the keys to victory, because librarians will want to show the great things that happened during their 2010 event in order to tell ALA how they'll build on it for next year. Make sure to register to participate in National Gaming Day to be eligible for the contest at http://bit.ly/ngd10reg. Then sign up for the DEMCO contest. For more information and the application form go to www.demco.com/goto?gameshopspree.

A panel of judges will choose up to 15 finalists from all of the submissions, and then one winner will be randomly drawn from the finalists at ALA's Midwinter Meeting in January. The winning library gets the shopping spree, and the fun job of figuring out how to spend $5000 to make that vision happen.

Then give a thumbs up for DEMCO on Facebook or reach out to them in another way to thank them for supporting gaming libraries in general and National Gaming Day in particular. ALA definitely appreciates their support.
(American Libraries Direct, October 6, 2010)

Home Improvement Books Recalled - Shock or Fire Hazard to Customers

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the Oxmoor House, Inc. (publisher of Sunset Books and others), recently updated a voluntary recall of a number of home improvement books due to faulty wiring instructions that could result in shock or fire hazard to consumers. Consumers (and, of course, libraries) should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product. More information, including the specific titles, is available here:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10104.html

(John DeBacher, Public Library Administration Consultant Public Library Development Team Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction)

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Oxmoor House toll-free at (866) 696-7602 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.sunsetrecall.com


 

WebJunction Publishes Survey Results on Patron Training

WebJunction has just published the results of a national survey on the use of patron training programs in large U.S. libraries. This IMLS-funded research looked specifically at how libraries are offering training to patrons, how training resources are being selected, and if libraries are developing any content themselves.

The report of the survey findings also includes recommendations for potential future research and suggestions for how libraries can expand their training to patrons. The survey, report, and other details about this research project are posted in the Patron Training section of WebJunction.

(WebJunction Crossroads, October 2010)

WPLC - Wisconsin Public Library Consortium Discussion List

The Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC) is a cooperative group whose members include public library systems and public libraries throughout Wisconsin. WPLC was created and exists to pool the resources of libraries throughout the state and use them to cooperatively undertake projects that may otherwise be unavailable to single libraries and library systems or could be enhanced through cooperation, thus sharing both the costs and the knowledge and resources acquired.

Wisconsin Valley Library Service is a member of the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium and because of this membership is able to provide access to OverDrive, NetLibrary and other projects of interest to libraries.

WPLC communicates meeting agendas, minutes, and other information of interest to the member libraries via a discussion list.  To subscribe to this list and access the WPLC Archives go to:  http://mail.owls.lib.wi.us/mailman/listinfo/wplc

(From WPLC, October 6, 2010)

5 Library Sources for Quick Computer Training

It’s hard to find good online technology tutorials, especially those for quick and basic computer skills. Harder still to find some that meet our high expectations as information professionals. So why not turn to the library world itself?

Below is a collection of my top 5 favorite sites for these quick computer training materials. These could be webinars, class handouts, tutorials, screencasts, you name it. What’s important is the content. It’s content I’m comfortable pointing a customer or a fellow staff member to if some core computer fundamental skills need improving. Weirdly, two institutions get two mentions apiece — but that’s because what they have is awesome. Browse through what they have, and you might be surprised to find there’s something there for you too!

1.Infopeople Archived Webinars (all past Infopeople webinars, often with PPTs or other handouts linked too; on topics other than technology too)


2.Infopeople Training Materials from Past Workshops (from 8 hour live classes and 4 week online classes each class includes numerous how-tos, readings, bibliographies, exercises, tutorials, cheat sheets, and more; on topics other than technology too)


3.Akron Summit County Public Library Computer Training Class Handouts (great list, copious detail)


4.Akron Summit County Public Library Computer Training Tutorials List (equally good list but the materials are in tutorial format)


5.Milwaukee Public Library Computer Class Curriculum (an extremely detailed list of basic and more intermediate computer skills, with printable handouts on how to do just about everything customers ask you how to do)
 
(Learning Round Table - September 25, 2010)

October is National Reading Group Month!

October is National Reading Group Month! The Women's National Book Association is celebrating with their list of Great Group Reads. Authors Alan Brennert (Honolulu) and Tatjana Soli (The Lotus Eaters) will be speaking in Los Angeles, plus Tatjana and Michelle Huneven (Blame) will speak at the Beverly Hills Literary Escape.

We have an exciting line-up ready for your enjoyment this month, including books that readers have been raving about. Don't miss By Nightfall from Pulitzer Prize winning author Michael Cunningham, and Nelson Mandela's Conversations With Myself.

Plus, we're featuring new guides for City of Tranquil Light, and The Art of Disappearing.
Come join us!  The Reading Group Gold Team

Fall 2010 Schedule for the BadgerLunch Webinar Series

Want to learn how BadgerLink can help you, your library patrons or students? Often wonder what BadgerLink has to offer? Need to squeeze learning into an already tight schedule? Ever want to eat lunch with a Badger? Ok, well…we are kidding about this last one… The Wisconsin Dept. of Public Instruction, Resources for Libraries & Lifelong Learning team, has organized another year of the popular BadgerLunch webinar series to help folks make better use of BadgerLink.

This series of learning sessions will explore BadgerLink’s rich collection of information tools. Each session covers one resource, database, or interface. All sessions are open to anyone who wants to learn. Topics include a description of the information/learning resource, searching techniques, and helpful features. All sessions are Thursdays at noon and last 30-45 minutes. Our Fall 2010 season schedule is below.

Each session is short so please log into the webinar a few minutes early so as not to disrupt the other participants. If you have little experience with webinars, then give yourself some extra time and log in a few minutes earlier.

An archive of previous sessions is found at http://www.badgerlink.net/training.html

BadgerLink is a project of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning. The goal is to provide access to quality online information resources for all Wisconsin residents.

BadgerLink FAQ:

October 7, 2010 -  What is it? How do I get access? ...and, can I get help?
Register/Attend: http://tinyurl.com/38lorml (no advance registration)


October 14, 2010 New from BadgerLink: WNA’s Wisconsin Newspapers
Register/Attend: http://tinyurl.com/35y5g6q (no advance registration)


October 21, 2010 New from BadgerLink: LearningExpress Library
Register/Attend: http://tinyurl.com/26oo9uv




A Festival of Books and Literature!:
October 28, 2010 Novelist and Novelist K8
Register/Attend: http://tinyurl.com/22kzlt2


November 4, 2010 Literary Reference Center
Register/Attend: http://tinyurl.com/26kh377


November 11, 2010 Humanities International Complete
Register/Attend: http://tinyurl.com/25ghn8q


November 18, 2010 TeachingBooks.net
Register/Attend: http://tinyurl.com/2dgh76y (no advance registration)



Stay Healthy with BadgerLink:
December 2, 2010 Consumer Health Complete
Register/Attend: http://tinyurl.com/2b6eeon


December 9, 2010 AltHealth Watch AND Lexi-PALS Drug Guide
Register/Attend: http://tinyurl.com/2bmq8xp


December 16, 2010 Business of Healthcare: BusinessSource Premier
Register/Attend: http://tinyurl.com/289nuxm

(David Sleasman, DPI-RLL)

Library Director – Marathon County Public Library

The Board of Trustees of the Marathon County Public Library is seeking a leader to direct the operations of the Marathon County Public Library System. The selected individual will provide leadership and oversight of the continued development and implementation of Library programs and services.

 Marathon County is the gateway to Wisconsin’s north woods recreational areas and home to diverse people, businesses and industries. Granite Peak Ski Resort, Lake Wausau, bike trails, parks, museums, and summer concerts are but a few of the many recreational and cultural activities that make Marathon County a preferred place to live and work.

 The Marathon County Public Library consists of nine locations throughout Marathon County, WI, including our Wausau Headquarters, plus eight branch locations. Marathon County has a population of 133,000 and the Library has a $3.6 million budget, 53 FTE employees, and a circulation of over one million. This position requires a Master’s degree in Library Science or Library Information Science from an ALA-accredited program and five years’ professional library management experience or equivalent combinations of education and/or experience. Salary Range: $71,678 - $91,707 with comprehensive benefits package. Submit Marathon County application materials no later than 4:30 p.m., Friday, October, 29, 2010 to: Employee Resources, 500 Forest Street, Wausau, WI 54403-5568 715-261-1451 Application materials can be found at: http://www.co.marathon.wi.us/jobs.asp and http://www.mcpl.us/about/employment