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SELCO Librarian
Mollie Pherson, Regional Librarian
Lots of cool events are taking place at our local libraries!
The G.H. Cachiaras Memorial Library, located on the Crossroads College campus in Rochester, went live with SELCO on Tuesday, June 17, 2008. Now that students and faculty are back for the fall semester, the library is hosting an open house to celebrate! The open house will be held on Monday, October 27 from 10 a.m.-noon. Refreshments will be provided.
The La Crescent Public Library, ISD #300 Early Childhood Family Education, and Childcare Resource and Referral are collaborating to offer a series of six free Saturday morning workshops designed for friends, family members, neighbors and others who provide childcare, as well as licensed child care providers. The workshops are scheduled for the first Saturday of the month and will be held at the La Crescent Public Library, 321 Main Street, La Crescent from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. The Saturday Morning Story Shop workshops will be centered on a seasonal theme, and all workshops will include refreshments, resource materials, a picture book to take home, a flannel board story and interaction wtih others who care about children. Registration is limited to 20 people. To register or for more information, please contact the La Crescent Public Library at 507-895-4047.
The Friends of the Spring Grove Public Library invite you to meet MN author and teacher Lin Enger on Saturday, October 11, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. at the Schmidt House in Spring Grove. The cost is 25 dollars per person. Enger teaches writing in the MFA program at Minnesota State University--Moorhead. His book, Undiscovered Country, is widely popular and available for check-out via the SELCO catalog. Patrons can also purchase copies of the book for $17 at the Spring Grove Public Library. For more information, please contact the Spring Grove Public Library at 507-498-5800.
The Rushford Public Library will be hosting An Afternoon with Lorna Landvik on Saturday, November 8 at the Rushford-Peterson School Theatre. Lorna will be visiting with guests from 3-5 p.m.--there is no admission, but free will offerings will be accepted at the door going towards the construction of a new building. There will be a silent auction where guests can bid on a chance to have supper with Lorna from 5-7 p.m. Six lucky individuals will get to dine with Lorna! For more information, please contact the Rushford Public Library at 507-864-7600.
Rachel Gray, Information Services Librarian
One of the email lists I follow turned me onto an online article today about Jay Walker's personal library. Mr. Walker is the founder of think tank Walker Digital that’s best-known for Priceline.com, and when he built his house, he built it around a 3,600 square foot library that is part museum. It includes three levels of bookshelves and display areas that include everything from Sputnik to a raptor skeleton to the instruction manual for the Saturn V rocket.
The article is “Browse the Artifacts of Geek History in Jay Walker's Library” By Steven Levy and it is in Issue 16.10 of Wired. My jaw dropped at the sheer beauty of this library and it’s amazing collection, and I hope yours does too!
Michael Scott, Assistant Director
I had the opportunity to visit the Rushford Public Library on August 26, 2008. I met with Susan Hart, the library's director and had a great visit. Susan provided me with a tour of the building, which as you can see from the photos on Flickr, is not only a busy place but certainly bursting at the seams! Patrons are certainly well-served at this library with library materials for all ages and public computers with Internet access as well. As many of you remember, the Rushford Public Library was the headquarters for a number of relief agencies during the floods of 2007 and the place in town where residents could access the necessary forms (mostly through the Internet) and assistance 24/7. Though the library made it through the flood fairly intact there are still signs of the flood's effect. The carpet has been removed from the main floor (saying it was in bad shape would be an understatement!) and the basement is still not back to full use at this point. However, there is a glimmer of hope for the future.
The day I visited the library was the day before the kickoff of their "Continuing the Legacy" campaign with the goal of building a new library in Rushford. The site has been picked and now the process of raising funds begins. According to their website, they have a goal for groundbreaking in Spring 2009. Here's wishing them the best of luck in achieving their goal.
I wanted to say a special thank you to Susan for allowing me to visit the Rushford Public Library!
Mollie Pherson, Regional Librarian
The 11th Annual Hot Reads for Cold Nights products are ready for your order! This year's theme features the moose and the Minnesota landscape. Southeastern Libraries Cooperating (SELCO) recognizes the importance of preserving our environment and we are offering a few "Green" products this year. Our print and promotional materials are reasonably priced and available to all libraries throughout the state of Minnesota and out of state.
Order deadline is Monday, October 13, 2008.
If you are a SELCO/SELS member, please click here to view product information.
If you would like to place an order and you are not a SELCO/SELS member, please click here to view product information.
Aurora Jacobsen, Information Services Librarian
I've read a number of articles lately about how as library budgets have decreased, library use has increased. One of the best articles about the topic appeared Monday in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Not only does it summarize some of the recent press, it does a good job of explaining exactly what the author gets for the $35 a year she gives the library in taxes and how she feels the value she receives far exceeds that amount.
A bit earlier this month was a report titled "Why Public Libraries Close" was released by Christie M. Koontz , Dean K. Jue and Bradley Wade Bishop of Florida State University and released through WebJunction. It's generating attention and comments on various library blogs and generating some good discussion.
Mollie Pherson, Regional Librarian
Here is information on the two-part series with 2008 MN Book Award Winners, thanks to the Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library:
Mark your calendars for a two-part series with 2008 Minnesota Book Award winners and Pioneer Press books editor Mary Ann Grossmann, presented by The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library. Get to know the writers, their work, and enjoy a conversation moderated by Ms. Grossmann.
On Sunday, September 28 at 2 p.m., sit down with Children's Literature winner Lynne Jonell (Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat); Readers' Choice honoree Jill Kalz (Farmer Cap); and Young Adult Literature winner Will Weaver (Defect). The following Sunday, October 5 at 2 p.m., join the General Nonfiction category winner Charles Baxter (The Art of Subtext); Memoir & Creative Nonfiction winner Patricia Hampl (The Florist's Daughter); Minnesota winner Doug Hoverson (Land of Amber Waters: The History of Brewing in Minnesota); Poetry winner Deborah Keenan (Willow Room, Green Door) and Fiction winner Wang Ping (The Last Communist Virgin).
Both events take place in the Magazine Room of Central Library, 90 West Fourth Street.
Michael Scott, Assistant Director
I have an update to my SELCO Librarian post on September 12, 2008 about the closing of Highsmith. This information had been reported in both The Capital Times (Madison, WI) and on the American Libraries Direct newsletter. It turns out that Highsmith is closing its Fort Atkinson, WI, facility and relocating to Janesville, WI as it was purchased by Lab Safety Supply, which is based in Janesville. A correction has been issued by The Capital Times. Additionally, American Libraries Direct this week noted the correction and has provided links to an article in the Watertown Daily Times about the relocation and a press release from Highsmith issued to clarify the issue. Having relied on information from reputable sources, I apologize for any concern or confusion this may have caused for Highsmith customers.
Michael Scott, Assistant Director
I had the opportunity to visit the Leroy Public Library on July 18, 2008. I had a great time getting to know Rhonda Barnes and her staff and finding out about what was happening at the Leroy Public Library.
The library itself consists of two floors. The main floor contains the Information Desk, public computers, the Adult Fiction collection and the Children's area. The lower level consists of the Adult Non-Fiction collection and large tables where patrons have plenty of space to spread out work they're doing. On the day I visited, the library was buzzing with activity. The public computers were all in use and there was even a bit of a waiting line for the computers (yes, I know, no surprise!) There were also a number of patrons coming in to check out and return library materials.
One of the unique parts of the Leroy Public Library's collection is its cake pan collection. For a small fee, patrons can "check" out a baking pan in some unique shape and bake the perfect birthday or special occasion cake. I thought this was a neat service for patrons who want to make a very special cake but don't want to own a very special cake pan forever. Rhonda told me that this collection receives quite a bit of use.
I want to say thanks to Rhonda and her staff (Sharon and Kay) for making my visit so very welcoming. I felt just like one of their patrons whom they warmly welcome to the library.
Rachel Gray - Information Services Librarian
Have you ever thought of having a podcast to alert patrons to what’s happening in your library? Have you nixed the idea as being too difficult or technically advanced for you to tackle?
I was recently researching podcasts (how to create them, where to host them, etc.) for training possibilities here at SELCO, and I ran across a couple wonderful introductory SirsiDynix Institute Webinars all about podcasting.
A Beginner's Guide to Podcasting: Part 1 - A Consumer's Guide taught by Greg Schwartz makes it really easy to understand what a podcast is and how to find some that appeal to you. This session helped me appreciate the wide variety of topics covered in podcasts, and it was also interesting to see how quickly this media exploded and gained popularity around the internet.
A Beginner's Guide to Podcasting: Part 2 - A Creator's Guide is a follow-up webinar that explores programs and tools available to anyone interested in creating their own podcasts. Since SirsiDynix is a company that serves libraries, both of these guides focus on how podcasts can benefit libraries and librarians, and also gives ideas for libraries to podcast about. The nice thing about this guide, is that Greg Schwartz doesn’t just paint a rosy picture about how easy podcasting is, although he does make it look easy. He also mentions that podcasting takes time and effort, which is important to remember before taking the plunge and getting into this new wave of information distribution.
Check out these free webinars for more information on podcasting. I am very happy I did, and I'm sure you will be too.
Michael Flores, User Technology Manager
Recently the LaCrescent Public Library was given five new computers from their city to replace some of their older equipment. This was a great improvement for many of their public computers. However one of the computers fell short of being useful as a public computer. LaVonne and I did some brain storming and instead of recycling this computer we decided to take out all of the parts inside of it and turn it into a donation box for the LaCrescent Public Library Computer Fund. This computer now sits on the front desk with an opening in the floppy drive for patrons to put in their donations to help keep their public computers running.
Mollie Pherson, Regional Librarian
Happy Monday! Here is some more information pertaining to libraries.
If you are looking for speakers regarding library safety, Wendy Wendt, Marshall-Lyon County Library Director, has compiled a list of library safety speakers. You can access the safety speakers summary by clicking here.
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) is now soliciting public comments on the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Science--Draft Revision dated September 2008. As part of the process, MDE is asking public libraries across the state to make the draft standards document and the feedback form in the printed and online versions available from their facilities (upon request). A notice that these documents will be available at public libraries will be part of a press release from MDE. An online link to both the draft standards document and the online version of the feedback form can be found via the MDE homepage by clicking here. If you have any questions, please contact Marsha Davis-Busch at 651-582-8755.
Attention Friends of the Library groups and Minnesota library staff!! Did your Friends of the Library group do something notable? The Minnesota Association of Library Friends (MALF) is asking you to submit that special project for the Best Project by Friends Award. The MALF is eager to recognize a variety of projects by Friends groups, completed after January 1, 2007, in communities of all sizes. Submit an Entry Form by Friday, September 26. The appropriate forms are available below:
Entry Form
Criteria
MALF Membership Application
To verify a group's membership in MALF, please contact Bob Papke at 763-545-8072 or papkecr@comcast.net. The award will be presented on Thursday, November 20 at the Sheraton Bloomington during the Minnesota Library Association Annual Conference, November 19-21.
Finally, Happy Birthday to Tomie dePaola, the late Robert McCloskey, and the late Agatha Christie!!
Michael Scott, Assistant Director
Just saw this come across American Libraries Direct newsletter that was in my email inbox this morning. Seems that Highsmith was bought by Lab Safety Supply and the company has announced that they will close Highsmith on November 1, 2008. Click here for the story. Highsmith was located in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin and had been a supplier of supplies, furniture, and equipment to libraries around the world.
