LTLS - Quick Connections

ALA READ Posters - CD Group Purchase

Rolling Prairie Library System is coordinating a group purchase of the ALA Read CDs: CD1 ($52) and CD2 ($52) for interested libraries. The ALA Read poster CD's allow you to create posters, bookmarks, and other promotional material featuring local community members, staff, patrons, and others. Each CD features different backgrounds and graphics. RPLS is also offering a training session in Decatur on Wednesday, April 4th on how to use the ALA Read graphics CDs to create your own public relations materials. If you are interested in participating in the group purchase please fill out this form and send it to Doris McKay, RPLS, 345 W. Eldorado St., Decatur, IL 62522, or send an email to Doris McKay (dorism@rpls.ws) providing the same information. Orders must be received by Friday, February 9nd. You will be billed when the order arrives.

ALA's Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature Program Grants

The American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office and Nextbook, a gateway to Jewish literature, culture, and ideas, have partnered to provide Let's Talk About It: Jewish Literature -- Identity and Imagination, a reading and discussion series. Public and academic libraries are eligible to apply.

Let's Talk About It: Jewish Literature features scholar-led, theme-based discussions that explore the best in contemporary and classic Jewish literature. Participating libraries will each host a five-part discussion series featuring one of six themes.

Each library selected will receive a $2,500 grant to support program costs and scholar honoraria; training for the library project director at a national training workshop to meet with project scholars, experts, and organizers; and program and promotional materials.

Libraries that have already received a grant and completed a Let's Talk About It series are eligible to apply for a single-series $2,500 grant or a two-series $5,000 grant. Visit the ALA website for complete guidelines and an application form. Deadline is December 3, 2007 (Second Round of Grants)

Oprah's Book Club and ALA Work Together

Libraries that are organizational members of ALA can receive free copies of the newest selection of Oprah's Book Club through a cooperative agreement. The current book club selection is "The Measure of a Man" by Sidney Potier. The arrangement between ALA, Oprah's Book Club and the publishers of book club selections has resulted in over 500,000 free books being donated to ALA organizational member libraries since 1996. Fnd out more at http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=News&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=148310. Libraries that are public, middle school, high school, and community college ALA Organizational Members as of February 1st are eligible to receive between 2 and 8 copies of the new book club selection. Information about Organizational Membership is available at http://www.ala.org/ala/ourassociation/membership/Organizationalmembership.htm

Disaster Plan - Online Help

For public libraries: In FY2008, the per capita grant will require an updated Disaster Plan. One resource for help in this area is an online disaster planning template prepared by the Northeast Document Conservation Center and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. The template was funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training.

The template is located at: http://www.dplan.org/.

This template covers all types of disasters and levels of preparedness. This is a free online product.

To see what the template covers, you can log in for a Demostration. Click on "DEMO" at the bottom of the home page for instructions. Even if you choose not to use the free online service, it is a great resource for the types of coverage your Disaster Plan should contain.

Black History Month

February is Black History Month. The Illinois State Library Diversity Program has compiled a list of library-related events celebrating Black History Month. Check it out at http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/whats_new/pdfs/2007black_history_month_events.pdf.