LTLS - Quick Connections

New Weekly Survey!

Be sure to check out our new poll below, or on our home page.

You can also view results from previous weekly polls.

LTLS Harry Potter Poll

LTLS posts new polls most every Friday for website visitors. This past week the poll was about the "Harry Potter" frenzy. We were very pleased to have the most repondents ever in a poll. Thanks. Equally interesting was the results. 46% of all respondents had not read any of the Harry Potter books and another 6% didnt see what the "fuss is about." To see the results of the survey go to http://www.lincolntrail.info/weeklysurvey.html

If you have interesting questions you would like to post to the LTLS community please let us know by emailing ltls@lincolntrail.info.

Between Fences -- Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition

In October 2008 the Illinois Humanities Council, in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution, will bring Between Fences back to Illinois. A popular exhibition on its second visit to the Prairie State, Between Fences tells the fascinating story of an American icon.

As part of the IHC's Museum on Main Street program, Illinois museums, historical societies, and libraries in towns with population less than 30,000, are invited to apply to host the exhibition.

Diversity Fair

The Second Annual Diversity Fair, sponsored by DEMCO and the Illinois Library Systems Directors Organization, will be held on Thursday, October 11, 2007, from 2:00-3:30 p.m. during the Illinois Library Association 2007 Annual Conference in Springfield. The Diversity Fair is a chance for conference participants to learn about programs and initiatives around the state that address diverse user populations. Participants in the Fair will be provided with space for a poster or table-top display and will have the chance to interact with conference goers to explain more about their projects.

To register for the event, complete the brief submission form, which can be found at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=5VOXWvX1pjTPAS7l_2fFmuOg_3d_3d.

GSLIS Course: Budget and Finance for the Library

The Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is pleased to announce the following continuing education/non-credit course:

Budget and Finance for the Library (ALA-APA approved for CPLA candidates)

Dates: September 5 - October 8, 2007
Times: Online synchronous sessions Wednesday, September 5 and Mondays, September 10, 17, 24, October 1, and 8 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Central time

Instructor: Robert H. Burger, Ph.D., CPA, Associate University Librarian for Services, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Cost: $300

Intended audience: CPLA program candidates; librarians and information professionals needing training in library budget and finance topics.

Purpose of the course: To familiarize the student with the basic principles of library financial administration, including budgeting and planning within the mission and goals of the organization. Upon completion of the course the candidate is expected to be able to develop program budgets, conduct operational analysis for budget forecasting, develop capital budgets, conduct cost/benefit analyses, and work with accounting personnel. Topics include line item, program, and capital budgets, cost benefit analysis, performance measures and operations indicators, capital projects, and fiduciary responsibilities of the library director, trustees, and others having responsibilities for financial administration in the library. The use of Microsoft Excel is assumed and will be used at a level appropriate for someone who has basic knowledge of Microsoft Excel.

For additional information and to register, visit http://www.lis.uiuc.edu/programs/cpd/CPLA/bf.html.

LTLS Board Meeting Postponed

Please be advised that the Lincoln Trail Libraries System Board of Directors meeting scheduled for tonight, July 16, 2007, has been postponed until Monday, July 23, 2007, at 7 p.m. The change has been made because not enough members could be present tonight for a quorum.