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SYNERGY 2008

Dates have been announced and applications are being accepted for Synergy: The Illinois Library Leadership Initiative 2008.

Synergy is the statewide library community's proactive movement to recruit and nurture future Illinois library leaders. Objectives include self-assessment; discovering and developing personal values; identifying the local, state and global environment; fostering and expanding skills and tools for personal, professional and positional leadership; creating a cohort group; establishing mentoring relationships; and developing a vision of and beyond the field of librarianship.

Librarians selected to participate in Synergy: The Illinois Library Leadership Initiative 2008 will commit to a yearlong process. Three three-day seminars will be held: April 1-3, Starved Rock Lodge and Conference Center, Utica; August 5-7, Pere Marquette Lodge, Grafton; and November 18-20, Hickory Ridge Marriott Conference Hotel, Lisle. Each site has been chosen for its unique Illinois flavor and for the natural progression, geographically, personally, professionally, as Synergy and its participants travel across the state.

Synergy: The Illinois Library Leadership Initiative 2008 applicants are responsible for compiling and submitting their complete applications to Ellen Popit, Committee Chair, at Shawnee Library System. Applications must be post marked by Friday, November 30, 2007. All applicants will be notified in regard to their application by late January 2008. Questions about Synergy may be directed to Patricia Norris, Vandella Brown or Cyndy Colletti at the State Library (1-800-665-5576 Option #1) or Ellen Popit (1-800-455-4374 extension 2024).

Scholarly Publishing and Open Access: Straight Talk

Join us at RPLS Headquarters, 345 W Eldorado St., Decatur, IL for this MLA webcast sponsored by GMR. This is a FREE workshop.

Goals: Without doubt dramatic changes over the past several years in scientific, technical, and medical publishing have opened a Pandora's box of questions, confusion, and complexity for library patrons, researchers, and librarians and have become the subject of much discussion. The Medical Library Association (MLA) continues its engagement in the conversation and speaks to the issues in its Webcast, "Scholarly Publishing and Open Access: Straight Talk".

Objectives: Introduce, define, and explain significant models of scholarly publishing. Explore the impact of open access on hospital libraries, academic libraries, and authors.

Discuss practical examples of new models of scholarly publishing and describe actions from both university and hospital perspectives to support new approaches.

Wraparound discussion Session I 12:30 p.m., central time
Webcast 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m., central time
Wraparound discussion Session II 3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m., central time

For more information and registration, go to:
http://www.rpls.ws/Ce/index.asp?Action=Details&EventID=2978

My Hometown Helper Grants Improve Communities

General Mills has announced its 2008 "My Hometown Helper" grant program, a nationwide initiative that helps local groups make a difference in their own communities. Award amounts will range from $500 to $15,000 each and all requests for funding must be sponsored by a 501(c)3 or 501(C)4 municipal or civic organization, such as a library or friends group or a public school.

For more information visit the My Hometown Helper website. Deadline is March 31, 2008.

We the People Bookshelf Grants

The American Library Association and the National Endowment for the Humanities invite public and school (K-12) libraries to apply for the fifth annual We the People Bookshelf grant. This grant program encourages young people to read and understand great literature while exploring themes in American history. Three thousand sets of classic books on the theme "Created Equal" will be awarded. Guidelines, programming ideas, and the online application are available at http://www.ala.org/wethepeople until January 25, 2008.

National Study of Internet Use in Libraries

The American Library Association (ALA) is encouraging public libraries to participate in the 2007-2008 Public Library Funding and Technology Access online survey. The survey provides an important opportunity for libraries to share information on computer and Internet resources and infrastructure, as well as funding, technology training and other uses of public libraries, such as providing public access technology centers in their communities. The current year's online survey, available at http://survey.pnmi.com, will be available through Nov. 25, 2007. For more information, go to http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2007/october2007/inet07.htm.

Letters about Literature Contest

Students in grades 4-12 are encouraged to enter the 2008 Letters About Literature contest. This is a national reading and writing contest sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and the Illinois Center for the Book in partnership with Target.

A new feature and incentive for the 2008 contest a $10,000 grant to the school or local library of each of the six national winners, to be used for reading promotion for children and young adults. Also new this year is the addition of 12 national honorable mentions. Each national honorable mention will receive a $1,000 grant for reading promotion for their community or school library.“

Every year thousands of Illinois students join students from across the nation in writing letters to authors, living or deceased, describing how a certain book has influenced their lives,” said Secretary White, who serves as honorary chair of the Illinois Center for the Book. “Anyone who has read these moving letters can see how literature truly inspires and touches the lives of our young people. The annual Letters About Literature contest combines reading and writing, two skills that will benefit students for the rest of their lives.”

Each participating state will select a winning letter for each competition level: Level I — grades 4, 5, 6; Level II — grades 7, 8; Level III — grades 9-12. The winners of each state will receive a $50 gift card from Target and other prizes from the Illinois Center for the Book. They will advance to national judging where two national winners and four national honorable mentions will be selected from each competition level. Along with a grant for the community or school library, the national winners will receive a $500 gift card from Target, and the national honorable mentions will receive a $100 gift card.

The deadline to enter the competition is December 14. State winners will be announced in March and national winners will be announced in May. Official guidelines and entry coupons are available at www.loc.gov/letters. For more information, contact Bonnie Matheis at 217-558-2065 or bmatheis@ilsos.net. Information on the Illinois Center for the Book is available at www.illinoiscenterforthebook.org.

Legislative Successes in Springfield: Budget Still in Flux

Working Cash Funds
The Illinois library community was successful in OVERRIDING the governor's veto of Senate Bill (SB) 186, Working Cash Funds. The bill addresses the management of public library district working cash funds by adopting provisions consistent with other units of local government, such as park districts and schools. The Illinois Senate overrode the governor's veto on October 2 by a vote of 44 yes; 0 no; and 8 present. The Illinois House of Representatives overrode the governor's veto on October 11 by a vote of 112 yes; 0 no; and 0 present. The bill now becomes effective immediately. Please thank both your Senator and Representative. Congratulations!

7 Percent Assessment Cap Legislation
The Illinois library community was successful in OVERRIDING the governor's veto of House Bill (HB) 664, commonly known as the 7 percent assessment cap legislation. ILA opposed HB 664 in the form it passed the Illinois General Assembly because it adversely affected the property tax base for local governments. However, the governor's veto has now caused a delay in issuing Cook County property tax bills. Until this issue is resolved, Cook County public libraries will not receive desperately needed property tax revenues. Therefore, the Illinois General Assembly should override the governor's veto and quickly resolve the issue. The Illinois House overrode the governor's veto on October 3 by a vote of 92 yes; 19 no; and 0 present. Yesterday, during the Illinois Authors' Luncheon, the Illinois Senate overrode the governor's veto by a vote of 55 yes and 1 no. The bill now becomes effective immediately. Tax bills should not be issued immediately in the Cook County. Please thank both your Senator and Representative. Congratulations!

State Budget
ILA is still requesting library advocates to request their Democratic Senators to OVERRIDE the governor's veto of House Bill (HB) 3866, the "State Budget." For the first time in twelve years, the Illinois General Assembly approved full funding for public library per capita grants. The state is obligated to provide funding to public libraries through grants equaling $1.25 per resident served. HB 3866 included an appropriation sufficient to meet the state's obligation to provide funding to public libraries. However, the governor's veto of HB 3866 reduced the per capita grants by one million dollars. This reduction is a budget cut affecting every one of the 633 public libraries in the state. The governor also vetoed many individual library projects, as well as funds for important healthcare information and electronic databases in Illinois public schools. The Illinois House overrode the governor's veto on October 2. Thank your Representative. Talk to your Senator