LTLS - Quick Connections

Summit Steering Committee Formed

A steering committee has been formed to carry out the charge coming out of the summit meeting held on November 9, 2009, on library cooperation in Illinois.  Co-chairs Dee Brennan, Oak Park Public Library, and Donna Dziedzic, Naperville Public Library, have developed a planning document that has been distributed to all summit participants.  Next steps include formation of task forces early next year to address specific areas of need.
 

White Endorses Campaign to Save Illinois Libraries

In response to the recent cuts to system funding and library grants, the Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White endorsed the campaign to secure the future of Illinois libraries today. 

At the 2009 ILA Annual Conference in Peoria, White noted that libraries are struggling to cope with unprecedented usage while facing budget cuts.  He told the Illinois library community to ask legislators to commit to libraries to take a pledge to oppose any additional cuts to library per capita grants in FY 2010.

Go the ILA Web site send your message to your elected official.

You can keep up with the campaign and find out what you can do to help by visiting us on Facebook or Twitter, or by going to SaveIllinoisLibraries.com. The campaign is just beginning:  be sure to check back regularly for updates!

2010 iRead Update - Scare Up a Good Book!

The 2010 iREAD Product Catalog is now available online at the ILA Web site.  (http://www.ila.org)  Please note the new retro-style poster for adults that highlights  Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, and Horror genres.  The poster is a fitting compliment to the expanded adult section in the iREAD Resource Guide.

The 2010 iREAD Resource Guide and CD will be distributed free to all Illinois public libraries in October 2009.  The Resource Guide is being produced and distributed free with funds from the 2009 Barack Obama Commemorative License Plate sales.  If you want to order additional copies of the 2010 iREAD Resource Guide, the cost is $25 and orders may be placed on the ILA Web site or by mail or fax.

Annual Conference Early Bird Registration Is Monday, 10 August

Register now for the 2009 ILA Annual Conference to receive a substantial early bird discount.  Peoria is the site for the upcoming conference, which will feature keynote speaker Omar Wasow, Youth Services Breakfast speaker Jill Thompson, and Illinois Authors Luncheon speaker Vicki Myron, in addition to dozens of workshops and seminars devoted to the hottest and most critical library issues today.

ILA Members:  Log in to the Members Only site to register now.  Contact kristy@ila.org if you need your log in ID and password.  Non-ILA Members:  Register securely online here.

Free 2010 iREAD Resource Guide for All Illinois Public Libraries: Your Help Is Requested

ILA is delighted to announce that the 2010 iREAD Resource Guide and CD will be distributed free to all Illinois public libraries in October 2009.  The Resource Guide will be produced and distributed free with funds from the 2009 Barack Obama Commemorative License Plate sales.

ILA would like to distribute the Resource Guide to the correct person in your library's youth services department.  Please check this list and submit any corrections to kristy@ila.org, with the subject line item 2010 iREAD.  The libraries appear alphabetically in the list.

The 2010 iREAD Catalog will be included in the October 2009 ILA Reporter.  In the fall, if you want to order additional copies of the 2010 iREAD Resource Guide, the cost is $25 and orders may be placed on the ILA Web site or by mail or fax.

Share Your PR Materials at ILA Inspiration Station

The ILA Marketing Committee is gathering public relations materials (newsletters, brochures, summer reading logs, bookmarks, program fliers) from all types of libraries for attendees to view and take home at the 2009 Inspiration Station at the ILA Conference. To submit materials for the Inspiration Station, please send at least 30 copies of your materials by October 2, 2009 to: Alissa Williams, Pekin Public Library, 301 S. Fourth St., Pekin, IL 61554.

Serving Our Public 2.0 Available

The Illinois Library Association (ILA) has announced the availability of "Serving Our Public 2.0: Standards for Illinois Public Libraries, 2009".  This is a revised edition and should be purchased by all LTLS public libraries. "Serving Our Public 2.0" is available to order online at $25 per copy for ILA members and $30 for non-members.   [Note: Please don't be confused by a link on the ILA website to "Serving Our Public Revised Edition".  That links to a small 2002 addendum to the out-of-print 1997 edition of Serving Our Public, not the new 2009 edition.]

Barack Obama Illinois License Plate

Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White and the Illinois Library Association (ILA) are pleased to announce the availability of an official Barack Obama Illinois license plate.

The plates, which are temporary and good for sixty days, are available for purchase at www.ila.org/obama for $50 a pair. Proceeds will help support the association’s activities including iREAD, the summer reading program for Illinois youth.

The election of President Barack Obama represents a historic moment for our state. These plates will commemorate and celebrate the election of our nation’s first African-American president. The proceeds will benefit libraries, referred to by President Obama as “our windows to a larger world.”

Illinois State Library Institutes

Here is the current information on the various Illinois State Library Institutes. Mark your calendar to start planning now.

On the Front Lines
http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/whats_new/pdfs/agentsofchange.pdf

Institute for School and Public Librarians
http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/whats_new/2009institute.html

Small Public Library Management Institute
http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/whats_new/2009splmi.html

Your Help Is Requested

As we read or hear on the Web, in the paper, on television, or over the radio, the 111th Congress recently convened, and its first order of business is clear:  sending an economic stimulus bill to President-elect Obama's desk.  The Illinois library community has encouraged President-elect Barack Obama and the entire Illinois Delegation in the U.S. Congress to include libraries in an economic stimulus bill.  (As mentioned in the December 10, 2008, ILA E-newsletter.)  And recent media accounts demonstrate our message has been heard.

In the current discussions, there seems to be a strong emphasis on quickly enacting an economic stimulus package for "shovel-ready" jobs, i.e., library construction/renovation projects.  While there are many unknowns, we believe, if funds are available, the Illinois library community should be ready to receive those funds by clearly identifying and stating our needs.  Thus, we would greatly appreciate your help in assembling essential information regarding the Illinois library construction/renovation needs.  Please complete the short survey so we can be prepared should funds be available through a Congressional economic stimulus package.