LTLS Services

Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center: Not Just an Audio Library for the Blind

The Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center (MITBC) offers a wide variety of services to a diverse population of patrons. Along with serving the print impaired, MITBC loans audio books and cassette players to students with learning challenges, including dyslexia, and works with schools interested in taking advantage of this free educational tool.

Listening IS Reading with Unabridged Titles: All of our books are complete and unabridged, so they may be used in conjunction with the printed version of the same title. MITBC is happy to work with your school library to make sure what is read in the classroom is available in audio format.
Don’t Miss Out! Free Service for Students and Schools: Educators can enroll their school and receive a talking book machine and audio books that can be used in the classrooms. Students may also sign up as an individual so that they may receive a talking book machine and cassette books for their home, absolutely free of charge. Interested in receiving talking books for your classroom? Visit www.mitbc.org or call 1- 800-426-0709.
Looking for More? Textbooks Available: The Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center is part of a state and national network of libraries serving the print-impaired. This national network allows the MITBC staff to act as a resource center for educators; we can help you find textbooks and additional materials in alternative formats. Two of these textbook services are Bookshare and the Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic. These services charge a modest fee for access to materials, but are excellent resources for recorded textbooks. MITBC is happy to provide our patrons with more information about these services.

Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center Offers PLAYAWAY for Schools

The Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center is not just an audio library for the blind. Along with serving the print impaired, MITBC loans audio books and cassette players to students with learning challenges and to schools interested in taking advantage of this free educational tool. Learn more about PLAYAWAY, the latest technology, and other materials at http://www.lincolntrail.info/playaway.pdf.

Deadline for Ordering Financial Manual Extended

LTLS and ILA are offering an opportunity for a substantial discount on the purchase of the new Financial Manual for Illinois Public Libraries. If 50 or more copies are ordered by LTLS, you will receive the discounted price. Please go to the following online form to join the group purchase: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=dYQHGmGFUNki1VXIOfD26Q_3d_3d

Please respond by Wednesday, November 20, 2007

Regular price: $20 / ILA Members ----- $30 / Non-Members
Discount price: $16 / ILA Members and Non/Members

LTLS recommends libraries order multiple copies to enable administrative staff and board members to have ready access to the publication.

Description:
The first edition of the Illinois Library Association's Financial Manual for Illinois Public Libraries will soon be off the press. Designed to be a practical and convenient resource tool, ILA, in conjunction with the law firm Ancel, Glink, Diamond, Bush, DiCianni & Krafthefer, P.C. has worked on this book since 2005. The resulting publication is intended to help librarians and boards perform more effectively regarding library finances.

To assist you in evaluating your purchase, below is a copy of the Table of Contents:
PART I
FINANCING LIBRARY OPERATIONS
Chapter 1 -- Budget Philosophy................................................... 3
Chapter 2 -- Budget Preparation.................................................. 5
Chapter 3 -- Budget Presentation................................................. 9
Chapter 4 -- Libraries Working within a Municipality's Budget..... 11
Chapter 5 -- Budget and Appropriation Ordinance................... 19
Chapter 6 -- Levy and Other Library Revenue/ Truth in Taxation................................................... 23
Chapter 7 -- Tax-Increase Referenda......................................... 27
Chapter 8 -- Required Annual Audit......................................... 37
Chapter 9 -- Annual Treasurer's Report/ Monthly Library Accounting Reports/ Local Government Prompt Payment Act.............. 39
Chapter 10 -- Investment of Public Funds................................... 43
PART II
SPENDING MONEY WISELY
Chapter 11 -- Collective Bargaining............................................ 51
Chapter 12 -- Construction Contracts......................................... 77
Chapter 13 -- Loss Prevention and Tort Immunity...................... 85
Chapter 14 -- How to Choose a Library District Attorney......... 95
APPENDICES
Appendix A -- Budget and Appropriation Ordinance with Certification.................................................. 99
Appendix B -- Levy Ordinance................................................... 105
Appendix C -- Truth-In-Taxation Act......................................... 109
Appendix D -- Estimate of Revenue............................................ 110
Appendix E -- Investment Policy................................................ 113
Appendix F -- Illinois Real Estate Tax Sources........................... 115
Appendix G -- Chart of Library Accounts.................................. 119
Appendix H -- Financial Terms................................................... 125

How to Pack ILDS Items in Delivery Bags

Attention all member libraries:

Please place all items going outside of LTLS (ILDS items) into your "down the route bag." If you don't have a "down the route" bag, place these ILDS items on top of other items in your returning/pickup bag.

Instant Message @ LTLS

LTLS staff are available to staff and governing officials in member libraries through a variety of communications means. One that staff find very useful for connecting with members is Instant Messaging. Instant Messaging is a good way of finding out which consultant and manager is online during the day without calling or emailing. To check on our availablity go to the following web site http://www.lincolntrail.info/staffdir.html. At the site you can see who is online. Please note that LTLS staff currently uses AOL instant messaging. Other LTLS staff also have IM accounts in particular the LINC team and we will be posting that information in the near future. Watch this location for more information.

We believe that providing you with IM communications to our staff that we can make contacting us even easier.