LTLS - Quick Connections

Weekly Poll

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

You can also view results from previous weekly polls.

2009 Capital Hearings

ILA encourages the Illinois library community to attend your regional 2009 capital hearing.  While the hearing's intent is to take testimony on what are the most important transportation funding priorities, the library community is encouraged to remind our elected official about our needs.  You might want to bring a copy of the Illinois Library Shovel-Ready Construction/Renovation Projects.

When: April 15, 10:00 a.m.
Where: Decatur:  Schilling Community Education Center, Richland Community College, One College Park, Decatur, Ill.

Nebraska congressman introduces bill to amend consumer safety act

The American Library Association (ALA) supports legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) yesterday to amend the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) to exempt ordinary books from the lead limit within the act.  This is a welcome step toward ensuring libraries will not be adversely affected by the law.

In August 2008, Congress passed CPSIA, an important law to protect children from the real dangers of toys made with lead-based paint; however, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) misinterpreted the law  to  apply to ordinary books for children 12  years of age or younger.

ALA Election Information

The ALA Nominating Committee nominates candidates from among the general membership for the position of president-elect (annually), for the position of treasurer (every three years), and for members-at-large of Council (annually).  ALA elections are held in the spring of each year with the results announced in early May.  Cast your vote!

The links below contain information regarding the 2009 elections for ALA President-elect and ALA Councilor-at-Large.

Reach out to Spanish-speaking patrons

ALA Editions, the publishing imprint of the American Library Association, is announcing the release of “Read Me a Rhyme in Spanish and English” by Rose Zertuche Treviño.  The ready-made storytimes included in this unique bilingual book are a must-have for any library serving Spanish-speaking patrons.

Roles of public library technology in supporting education, learning highlighted in new issues brief

The vast majority of public libraries report that providing education resources and databases for K-12 students is the Internet-based service most critical to the role of the library. In the third of a series of reports related to technology access in U.S. public libraries, the American Library Association (ALA) Office for Research & Statistics (ORS) is highlighting how public library technology supports the educational and learning needs of every person in the community. The issues brief draws from national data published in the Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study (www.ala.org/plinternetfunding).

PLA offers politics and networking workshop for public librarians

Now more than ever, being able to navigate the political environment in your community is critical to the success of your public library. In order to help you learn the skills you need to operate effectively with your local government, the Public Library Association (PLA), in conjunction with the Georgia Public Library Service, is offering a two-day Politics and Networking workshop June 4-5 in Decatur, Ga.

What's New @ WJIL

How you can still take advantage of the wildly popular Customer-Focused Library webinar, a new Library Law article, a guide for learning together and the “Tea for Two Plus You?” webinars. Read all this and more in this week’s “What’s New @ WJIL”

http://webjunctionworks.org/il/blog/index.php/2009/03/24/whats-new-wjil-march-24-2009/

Marketing basics online course registration ends March 30

Librarians intimidated by marketing assignments related to their jobs or looking to perfect their marketing know-how should register for Marketing Basics for Libraries, an online course offered by the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA).

The course is appropriate for both public and academic librarians and library staff who are asked to market library services, as well as other types of librarians who find marketing assignments challenging and difficult.

National Library Week is April 12-18 – Get it on your calendar!

The American Library Association (ALA) would like to remind everyone that April 12 – 18 is National Library Week, a national observance honoring the contributions of our nation’s libraries, librarians and library workers. This year’s theme is “Worlds connect @ your library” and will be celebrated at thousands of libraries of all types throughout the country.