LTLS - Quick Connections

Weekly Poll

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

You can also view results from previous weekly polls.

Wanted: Volunteer Literacy Tutors in Rantoul

Project READ literacy tutors help adults throughout the Parkland district improve their basic reading, writing, math, and English as a Second Language skills. Twelve hours of training are required to become a Project READ volunteer.

Project READ at Parkland College will offer a training workshop for volunteer literacy tutors over two Saturdays, January 26 and February 2, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in room E101 on the Parkland campus.

Lunch and snack will be provided during the upcoming training session. Training and materials are free, but registration is requested. Please call 217-353-2662.

Book Group Buzz

Book Group Buzz, is a new ALA/Booklist blog about all things relating to book groups, intending be a one-stop book group resource, with information about books that worked well (or books that bombed) and providing organizational tips, read-alike comments along the lines of, “if this worked well with your book club, try this,” and more.  If you coordinate local book discussion groups, or think you might want to start a book group, check it out.

2008 Digital Divide Grant Program

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has released the Digital Divide Grant Program 2008 application, due on February 15, 2008. The immediate goal of the Program is to increase access to computers and technology training in low-income communities. Under this program, the Department is authorized to make grants to support Community Technology Centers, including public hospitals, libraries, park districts, state educational agencies, local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, and public and private nonprofit or for-profit educational organizations. For details on eligible communities, eligible costs, the funding application, and upcoming information sessions, go to http://www.illinoisbiz.biz/dceo/Bureaus/Technology/Technology+Grants+Programs/1-Eliminate+the+Digital+Divide.htm.

Reaching Forward South Conference for Support Staff

Mark Your Calendar Now! The next Reaching Forward South Conference for Support Staff will be held October 2-3, 2008. The theme this year is “Library Support Staff: A True Treasure.” Watch for more information at http://www.reachingforwardsouth.org.

Grants for MS Library Degree (Community College Program Concentration)

Grant-funds are still available for persons interested in pursuing the MS library degree (Community College program concentration) through the University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science beginning this summer/fall, through the NILRC (Network of Illinois Learning Resources in Comm. Colleges) IMLS-funded grant, "Libraries Serving Community-based Higher Education: Preparing the Next Generation of Community College Librarians." Deadline for application to UI is January 15 for on-campus study, March 1 for LEEP (online) program. Please refer to the NILRC web page (http://www.nilrc.org) for a pdf of the grant brochure (disregard the October date in the brochure). Persons selected to participate in the cohort receive tuition awards for up to 40 hours at the in-state rate. Following degree completion, cohort members will be placed with grant partner colleges for six months in a grant-paid full-time internship position. Email sduchow@uiuc.edu for a Fact Sheet with application details.

New Feature Articles on the LTLS Home Page

The following articles have been posted to the LTLS home page (http://www.lincolntrail.info):

Ask?Away Illinois
Slam the Boards! Predatory Reference and the Online Answer Sites
Resolve to Try AskAway for Free

Coming Up Taller Awards

The Coming Up Taller Awards annually recognize and reward excellence in afterschool and out-of-school arts and humanities programs for underserved children and youth in the United States. Programs initiated by museums, libraries, performing arts organizations, universities, colleges, arts centers, community service organizations, schools, businesses, and eligible government entities are encouraged to consider participating.

Fifteen award recipients will receive $10,000 each, an individualized plaque, and an invitation to attend the annual Coming Up Taller Leadership Enhancement Conference.

Visit the Coming Up Taller Web site for complete program guidelines, eligibility restrictions, and application procedures. Deadline is January 31, 2008.

AASL Innovative Reading Grant

Sponsored by the American Association of School Librarians with support from a group of publishing companies, the Innovative Reading Grant is designed to support the planning and implementation of a unique and innovative program for children that motivates and encourages reading, especially among struggling readers. To be eligible, the reading program must be specifically designed for children (grades K-9) in a school library setting and encourage innovative ways to involve children in reading. In addition, applicants must be a member of AASL. The program will provide one award of $2,500.

Visit the AASL Web site for complete program guidelines. Deadline is February 1, 2008.

School Library Program and Social Event

A special inaugural program and social event for school librarians will be held at University High School in Normal on January 16, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. Frances Jacobson Harris, author of the best-selling library book, I Found It on the Internet: Coming of Age Online, will discuss her insights and discoveries concerning teenagers and technology. Librarian at the University Laboratory High School in Urbana-Champaign since 1987, Harris team teaches computer literacy courses for 8th and 9th graders and speaks frequently on topics concerning young adults, Internet ethics, and digital information.

This free event will be the first of two school library events funded by an LSTA grant exploring the feasibility of developing an Illinois Center for Information Literacy. Partners in the grant hope that these events will initiate regular meetings and collaborations with similar groups throughout the state. The presentation will be followed by a brief discussion about future programs and meetings. Snacks will be provided by Illinois State University's Milner Library.

For more information and to register, please contact Dane Ward (dmward@ilstu.edu). You may find directions to University High School at http://www.uhigh.ilstu.edu/school/directions.htm.