2011 LSTA Grant Information & Webinars

2011 LSTA Grant Information Sessions

The LSTA Information and Guidelines for 2011 will be posted during the week of June 13th. There will be a limited number of booklets available in paper format.

June 22 at 10:00-11:30 a.m. and at 1:00-2:30 p.m.
LSTA Technology and Multi-Type Category Training Sessions The afternoon session will repeat the morning information session. Information sessions will be recorded and available at a later time via web posting. Following are the categories being discussed during
the June 22nd webinars:• Broadband Upgrade Grant -- non-competitive – library system
• Public Library System Technology -- non-competitive - library systems
• Joining Shared Automated Systems -- non-competitive- library systems
• Enhancing Use of Technology in Libraries and library systems –competitive – libraries and library systems• Multi-type Library Collaboration – competitive – libraries and library systems

June 24 at 10:00-11:30 a.m. and at 1:00-2:30 p.m.
LSTA Special Needs Categories’ Training Sessions The afternoon session will repeat the morning information session. Information sessions will be recorded and available at a later time via web posting. Following are the competitive categories available to public library and public library system applicants requiring partnerships and collaborations:
• Literacy
• Job Search & Employment Support
• Accessibility

 June 28 at 10:00-11:30 a.m.
LSTA Digitization Training Session The information session will be recorded and available at a later time via web posting. The competitive digitization categories available to public library and public library system applicants are:
• Digitization – Local Resources
• Digitization – Large Libraries (population size greater than 100,000)

Webinar instructions for any of the five sessions will be emailed to potential grant applicants. To register please email Terrie Howe at Teresa.Howe@dpi.wi.gov or call (608) 266-2413.

Wisconsin Libraries Say Cheese! A Day in Pictures 2009

Wisconsin Libraries Say Cheese! A Day in Pictures 2009

Garners National Attention for Wisconsin Libraries!

The WLA Foundation’s Campaign Action Committee is excited to announce that last fall’s Say Cheese event is currently spotlighted in the June/July issue of the ALA’s American Libraries publication. (See the Trends/Perspective section on pp. 20-21 or follow this link to the American Libraries archives at http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/archives/print-issue/jun-jul-2010/zmag to view the article).

Wisconsin Libraries Say Cheese! 2009 (the public relations campaign using a specially built Flickr page to show the world the business and the busy-ness of Wisconsin libraries of all types) was a huge success, with over 100 libraries adding more than 600 photos to Flickr.

For those libraries that missed the fun and excitement of participating in last year’s event, the “little Cheese Guy” will be making one more return visit in 2010. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, November 17, 2010, as the day to take photos of cool stuff happening at your library. Future announcements will be coming your way regarding this WLA Foundation 2010 fall event and all new information will be posted as it becomes available at http://www.wisconsinlibraries.org/saycheese.

(Patricia A. (Pat) Eschmann, Communications Coordinator-Wisconsin Library Association Foundation (WLAF))

The OverDrive Bookmobile is Coming to Wisconsin

The OverDrive Bookmobile is coming to Wisconsin!

Join the Waukesha County Federated Library System in welcoming the Overdrive Digital Bookmobile (http://www.digitalbookmobile.com/) to the Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books on Friday and Saturday, June 18th-19th at the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha from 11-5 each day. Information on the festival can be found at http://www.sewibookfest.com/
 We hope that if you are in the Southeast Wisconsin area during the Festival weekend you can find time to join us!

Mellanie Mercier
Library Automation Coordinator
Waukesha County Federated Library System
831 N Grand Ave Suite 220
Waukesha WI 53186

OverDrive Training for the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium

Mark Your Calendar!

OverDrive’s Training Team invites you to learn more about your download service from OverDrive. A class has been scheduled for your group, and the details are outlined below. Our expert trainers will answer your questions and provide tips and tricks to help make the most of your ‘Virtual Branch’.

Please plan to attend!

CONFERENCE DETAILS:

The following course is scheduled. It will be hosted conveniently via web conference.

Browse, Check Out, Download
Tuesday, June 15th at 10:00 AM CDT. Access Code: 7301070.

Description: Learn how to browse, check out, and download titles from your library's Virtual Branch website. At the end of this course, library staff should feel comfortable answering basic questions about your OverDrive download service.

Duration: 1.5 hours.

Who should attend: All staff.

Please SAVE this email. It includes complete instructions for attending the conference. No further registration is needed. If you have any questions, please contact:  Lisa Coreno lcoreno@overdrive.com

See what other courses OverDrive offers, download presentations, and take a Guided Tour: http://www.overdrive.com/products/dlr/training.asp.
______________________________________________________________________

CONFERENCE SETUP: Please complete all steps below.

The training will be conducted using ReadyTalk, which uses online web sharing and telephone conferencing.

Step 1: Conference testing and setup – At least one day prior to conference.
1. Flash install: An Adobe Flash Plugin is needed for this conference.

Go to: http://www.readytalk.com/. Locate the 'Join a Meeting' box, and click 'Test your Computer'. A pop-up box will be displayed.
· If your computer is setup properly for the conference, you’ll see a green circle with a check mark.
· If not, instructions will be provided, including a link to install the Adobe Flash Plugin.

2. Internet connection: OverDrive recommends using a hard line Internet connection rather than a wireless connection.

3. Audio connection:
· A speaker phone is recommended for the audio conference.
· If your location wishes to attend but cannot dial in due to limited phone lines, please contact your OverDrive Project Manager for additional information.
· ReadyTalk allows up to 96 locations to call in to each training.

4. Location: For the benefit of others on the call, please choose a quiet location for your training.

Step 2: Web Conference Login – 10 to 15 minutes before the training begins

1. Make a note of the ReadyTalk access code listed in this email for the date and time you are attending (from 'Conference Details').
2. Open your Internet browser and go to: http://www.readytalk.com/.
3. Locate the 'Join a Meeting' box. Enter your access code.
4. Next, Ready Talk will display the 'Participant Registration' screen. Please enter your information as prompted, and our staff will send follow-up information after the call.

Step 3: Audio Conference Login (required for audio) – 5 minutes before the training begins

1. Make a note of the ReadyTalk access code listed in this email for the date and time you are attending (from 'Conference Details').
2. Dial the appropriate number from your touch-tone phone.   Participants within US / Canada: 1.866.740.1260.  Other participants outside North America: Look up the International Toll-Free number for your location at http://www.readytalk.com/support. To complete the look-up, enter your ReadyTalk access code.
3. When prompted by the audio conference, enter your ReadyTalk access code.

Best Buy @15 Community Grants Program

Best Buy Offers Community Grants

Through decades of charitable giving totaling more than $175 million, Best Buy has supported non-profit organizations in the communities where our employees live and work. Best Buy believes in the power of teens, and @15 is a platform to connect with them, give voice to their perspectives, and invest our resources – including the energy and talents of our employees – to turn their ideas into action and support their efforts to lead social change. To learn more, visit http://www.at15.com/.

@15 is about giving teens opportunities to Live, Learn, Love, and Lead. These are the four dimensions of our @15 mission, and they are specifically designed to create a picture of a whole person, rather than defining a particular issue.

1. Learn — opportunities to have a high quality education and learn
2. Live — opportunities to build life skills and thrive
3. Lead — opportunities to develop leadership skills and contribute
4. Love — opportunities to build healthy relationships and relate

@15 COMMUNITY GRANTSThrough the @15 Community Grants Program, Best Buy teams across the United States select non-profit organizations that provide positive experiences to help teens to excel in school, engage in their communities, and develop leadership skills. This year, Best Buy Children's Foundation will give $2 million through the Community Grants Program.

Best Buy seeks applications from organizations that have current 501(c)(3) tax status and are serving a diverse population of young teens in the areas of learning, life skills, leadership or relationship development. Special consideration will be given to programs that:

• Serve a diverse population in local or regional communities
• Build social, academic, leadership and/or life skills in early adolescents (primarily ages 13-18)
• Show positive results against a demonstrated community need
• Reach at-risk children in working families

Funding GuidelinesGrants will average $3000-$5000 and will not exceed $10,000.   Non-profits located within 50 miles of a Best Buy store or Regional Distribution Center may apply. See the Best Buy store locator at http://www.bestbuy.com./

Organizations must successfully complete the grant eligibility quiz online at: www.easymatch.com/bestbuygrant to apply.

Grants are awarded for one year and are not intended to be recurring funding. We invite grantees to re-apply in subsequent years based on program results, although there are no guarantees of multi-year grants. Previous grantees must submit a report online before applying for subsequent funding.

Organizations within the Twin Cities 7-county metro area are eligible and can apply for the Community Grants Program or the Twin Cities Fund, but not both.

Process:

• June 1, 2010 Grant application opens. Review guidelines and apply online at http://www.easymaatch.com/bestbuygrant 
• July 1, 2010 Deadline to submit application online - hard copy applications will not be considered.
• September 2010 Grant announcement and awards.

QuestionsGo to www.easymatch.com/bestbuygrant or contact bestbuygrant@easymatch.com or 866-625-4350.

WVLS Public Library Directors Retreat

WVLS Public Library Directors Retreat

The Wisconsin Valley Library Service held a successful Public Library Director's Retreat on Thursday, May13th at the Rothschild Village Hall - Community Room. It was a fun day for all and the experience included the sharing of information about many concerns and ways to resolve these issues.

Here is a list of some of the topics that were discussed by the group of public library directors:

• Communications
• Advocacy
• Fundraising
• Resource Sharing
• Budget
• Social media
• Website design
• Working with your community, municipal officials, and state officials
• Technology Trends
• WVLS System plan and services

Congratulations to the following lucky door prize winners:

1) Netbook - Colby Public Library

2) WLA Scholorship - T.B. Scott Free Library – Merrill
3) Sony eReader Touch - Rib Lake Public Library
4) Sony eReader Touch - Medford Public Library
5) $100 Collection Grant - Crandon Public Library
6) $100 Collection Grant - Neillsville Public Library

Thank you for attending and see you at the Fall 2010 Retreat!

Microsoft Office Help and Training Sites

Need Help Working with Microsoft Office?

Where can you (and your library's patrons) learn more about Microsoft Office products?
Microsoft's training site. Microsoft offers a variety of online training options including:

• Office Training courses -  Free self-paced training courses for Office programs.
• The "Getting Started with Office 2007" page which includes training, videos, and an "Office 2007 Ribbon and Toolbar Overview"
• Office Interactive Guides Visual, interactive reference guides to help you quickly learn where things are.
• CustomGuide's quick references. 2-page reference cards with screenshots, shortcuts, and how-tos for common tasks. Free and available in .pdf format for many versions of Office programs. (Can you picture these printed double-sided, laminated, and available for patrons that need them? I can!)
• Microsoft Office Help. In versions 2003 and earlier, Help is available from the "Help" menu. In 2007, Help is available by clicking on the question mark in the upper right corner of the screen.

(South Central Library Service Tech Bits, May 6, 2010)

WVLS Public Library Directors Retreat

WVLS PUBLIC LIBRARY DIRECTORS RETREAT

Where:Village of Rothschild Community Room (211 Grand Avenue, Rothschild, WI)

Date: Thursday, May 13, 2010

Time: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (refreshments and conversation begin at 9:00 a.m.)

SHARE…LISTEN…LEARN
During this informal and interactive session, be prepared to SHARE your library’s stories, LISTEN to the testimonials of others, and LEARN from the experiences of your colleagues.

UP FOR DISCUSSION
This retreat is the perfect opportunity to talk about issues that matter most to you! However, topics that may be discussed include: what’s new; 2011 budget outlook; advocacy; resources that help you stay current; collection development; technology; collaborative partnerships and projects; strategic planning; relationship building – trustees/municipality/county; local management issues; doing more with less; and so much more!!

Also, WVLS folks will highlight the latest and greatest information from recent conferences and get you up to speed on what’s happening at WVLS!

PLEASE PLAN TO PARTICIPATE!

R.S.V.P.: Monday, May 10th - please contact Susie at the WVLS office (email: shafemeister@wvls.lib.wi.us; telephone: 715/261-7250).

Choose Privacy Week

Choose Privacy Week

This week marks the inaugural Choose Privacy Week, a celebration of our right to privacy and an opportunity to engage libraries, librarians, and the general public about the importance of this issue in our increasingly public world. Sponsored by the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom, Choose Privacy Week is made possible in part by a grant from the Open Society Institute.

To help us kick off this week, we are thrilled to present a 20-minute video featuring Neil Gaiman, Cory Doctorow, ALA President Camila Alire, University of Chicago professor Geoffrey Stone, and others. We hope you'll take a chance to watch and share it with your friends and colleagues, library users and students. It's a wonderful introduction to the issues we're focused on, and a great way to kick off Choose Privacy Week. It's available at http://vimeo.com/11399383. Please consider embedding it on your blog/website/Facebook wall, emailing it to your e-lists, etc.

Our website, http://www.privacyrevolution.org/, is a great resource to learn more about Choose Privacy Week, find events in your area, and get resources for programs and educational opportunities. You can also show your support by becoming a fan at www.facebook.com/chooseprivacyweek and by following us at www.twitter.com/privacyala. (If you're tweeting about the week, please use the #chooseprivacy hashtag!)

WAIS Grants Available to Bring State Authors & Illustrators to Wisconsin Communites

Bring a Wisconsin Author or Illustrator to Your Community

The Wisconsin Center for the Book's Wisconsin Authors and Illustrators Speak program, offers towns and cities the opportunity to celebrate and explore the literature of our state with writers and artists. The Center for the Book will award up four grants of $300 each to qualifying organizations wishing to bring a Wisconsin author or illustrator to their community to speak at a public event. The event must be free of admission charges and be scheduled between September 1, 2010 and April 30, 2011. A Wisconsin author or illustrator is defined as one who has lived in Wisconsin for a significant period of time, including someone who may no longer be living in the state.

Any Wisconsin nonprofit organization interested in books and reading is eligible to apply for one of the grants. Collaboration among groups is encouraged. Such groups may include libraries, schools, community organizations, and places of worship. Applications will be judged on the basis of community outreach and collaboration, thoroughness of planning, and rationale for the choice of speaker.

Application information can be found at http://wisconsincenterforthebook.wordpress.com/wais/ 
or by contacting Sarah McGowan, Wisconsin Authors and Illustrators program chair, at windsong@centurytel.net. Completed applications are due July 1, 2010.