Cooperation Today

The Illinois Youth Recreation Corps is a grant program to help not-for-profit entities and units of local government (including all types of libraries) employ 16-19 year-olds for up to 60 days this summer. Grants will fund wages for jobs that provide recreational opportunities in areas including (but not limited to) physical activity, arts, and learning. [...]

IHLS LOGO DESIGN OPPORTUNITY: Are you creative? The Illinois Heartland Library System Transition Board invited individuals to submit designs for a professional logo for the system. The Board and staff are interested in seeing concepts, designs and ideas that will provide a brand for the system showing the interdependence of member libraries in providing service [...]

Lincoln Trail Libraries System is finishing up its continuing education calendar by offering 2 workshops regarding Human Resources. The first is on Creating Meaningful Job Descriptions.  This workshop will be held at 1704 Interstate Drive, Champaign, IL, on May 23rd, from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. The second is on Managing Employee Performance:  What to [...]

The Illinois Emerging Writers Competition (http://illinoiscenterforthebook.org/projects/projectsb.html) was created by Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White to promote creative writing and  provide a unique opportunity to recognize new literary talent.  The competition offers two divisions – the Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award and the James Jones Short Story Award-and is open to any Illinois resident [...]

If you received a public library per capita, school library per capita or other type of grant requiring submission of a budget amendment, the amendment must be submitted to the State Library by May 1.  For questions about budget amendments, please contact Mary Downing at mdowning@ilsos.net , Karen Egan at kegan@ilsos.net , or Jeanne Urbanek [...]

The U.S. Census Bureau has placed 2010 Census maps on the Web.  The data may be particularly helpful for public library districts that will have to compare their district boundaries to census geography to arrive at their population figure for annual Illinois State Library Public Library Per Capita grants.  There are four types of 2010 [...]

Thanks to a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Illinois State Library will provide more than 60 Illinois public libraries with “business packages”.  The packages include laptops, multimedia projectors, camcorders, software and training videos to assist small businesses and entrepreneurs in local communities. The business packages will be made available to public [...]

For the upcoming fiscal year starting on July 1, 2011, H.W. Wilson will be making some changes on how you access their product.  The name of the product has changed from WilsonSelect Plus to OmniFile Select.  One of the other major changes is that the library systems will no longer bill for their product in [...]

SnapShot Day is less than 1 week away!  What is your library doing to prepare??? This is an important event for letting our state legislators know what libraries do for their communities every day.  For more information go to:  http://www.ila.org/snapshot/.  

Rolling Prairie Library System has been selected as a GMR sponsored site for the upcoming MLA Webcast: “Shifting Skills to Navigate the Changing Horizon: Finding Our Way in New Biomedical Research and Health Care Environments” webcast. Thanks to this grant this event is free and open to the public. You and anyone that you know [...]

Join Kathi Kresol, 2011 iRead chair, Michele Wyss (iRead Chair for 2013) and Kristen Lawson, Allerton Public Library District, for this year’s kickoff to summer reading.   This year we have a great program for you to enjoy! We will be making edible wands!  Having a wizard demonstration!  A book talk…..and showing you lots and [...]

The application for FY2012 Adult Literacy Grants is now available online.  Applications are due April 15.  There are three separate literacy grant categories: Adult Volunteer Literacy Tutoring programs provide one-on-one instruction for adults to improve their reading, math, writing and language skills. Family Literacy programs equip parents and their children, together and separately, to improve [...]

Do you have an idea, a best practice, or a collaborative success story to share with your school library colleagues?  If so, please consider submitting a request for proposal (RFP) to present at the 2011 ISLMA conference.  Presentations can be for 1-hour sessions or _ day sessions. For submission information and RFP form, please go [...]

The rollout of the new Public Library Construction Grant Program has been put on hold because of a recent court ruling. The Live and Learn Construction Grant Program (see below) is NOT affected by the court ruling. Thanks to the public libraries that filed Statements of Interest for FY2011 Live and Learn Public Library Construction [...]

The CENTER FOR CHILDREN’S BOOKS is proud to announce its TENTH ANNUAL BOOK SALE! Thousands of inexpensive, brand new children’s books will be available, including board books, picture books, easy and transitional readers, chapter books, series fiction, young adult novels, activity books and kits, nonfiction series, mass-market paperbacks, and more! Pre-Sale — Sun, February 20th, [...]

The Penny Severns Summer Family Literacy Grant Application is available online and is due Tuesday, February 1, 2011, at 4 p.m. A webinar grant information session was offered December 8, 2010, and can be viewed at the link provided above. The Penny Severns Summer Family Literacy Grant is funded by the Library Services and Technology [...]

The Illinois State Library is pleased to release the Illinois Public Library Annual Report (IPLAR) FY2011 using the Bibliostat Collect software for data collection. The web-based IPLAR is accessible at http://collect.btol.com. To access the Bibliostat Collect site, you will need to know your library’s Illinois State Library (ISL) User Name and Password.  Your library’s User [...]

Thanks to the public libraries that filed Statements of Interest for FY2011 Live and Learn Public Library Construction Grants. Completed grant applications are due February 18 and are available at http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/what_we_do/constructgrant.html. For further information, please contact H. Neil Kelley at 217-782-1891, nkelley@ilsos.net; or Mark Shaffer at 217-524-4901, mshaffer@ilsos.net. The Live and Learn program is in [...]

The rollout of the new Public Library Construction Grant Program will commence very soon.  If your public library has been waiting for the program announcement, and you believe you would be able to submit an application this spring, please send a simple Statement of Interest to the State Library via email. Put the phrase “Statement [...]

Over the first year with Project Compass, WebJunction heard about the many successful ways in which public library staff around the country have responded to the needs of the unemployed. They also heard that library staff could use more training and knowledge to augment their ability to help the struggling workforce. And of course, they [...]

Public Library Days and Dates to Remember 2011 – 2012 on WebJunction Illinois Public Library Days and Dates to Remember calendar for 2011 and 2012, starting with Trustee election petition filings December 13, 2010 to December 20, 2010 under the newest election law changes, and many more deadlines to come has been added to WebJunction [...]

Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White and the Illinois State Library are pleased to announce that FY 2011 Live and Learn Public Library Construction Grant Program applications and related information are now available from the State Library’s website. Any libraries interested in applying for a Live & Learn Public Library Construction Grant should [...]

Applications are now available to become participants, mentors and/or instructors for next year’s ILEAD U sessions. Applications must be postmarked by November 15. The applications are available online from the ILEAD U website. ILEAD U is the State Library’s initiative to help library staff understand and respond to user needs through the application of participatory [...]

Libraries participating in the 2011 Big Read in Central Illinois have partnered to present a contest asking individuals to share a story, poem, video or piece of artwork or mixed media that expresses the influence of music in their lives. The Under the Influence: Music that Inspires Expression Contest is open to individuals ages 13 [...]

It’s shaping up to be another terrific year for Read for a Lifetime, the State Library’s popular reading program for high school students. If you haven’t submitted a participation form yet, you’ll find them online at State Library’s Read for a Lifetime website. Please return forms to Jeanne Urbanek at the Illinois State Library, Gwendolyn [...]

The Illinois Blue Book, published by the Secretary of State’s office, is a comprehensive guide to Illinois state government and serves as an historical reference for years to come. The 2009-10 Illinois Blue Book is available by contacting: Secretary of State, Communications Department, 471 Howlett Bldg., Springfield, IL 62756, 217-785-8234. The Blue Book also is [...]

Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White and the Illinois State Library are pleased to announce that FY 2011 Live and Learn Public Library Construction Grant Program applications and related information are now available from the State Library’s website. Any libraries interested in applying for a Live & Learn Public Library Construction Grant should [...]

The MLA Webcast: ABCs of E-books: Strategies for the Medical Library is being offered for free at Rolling Prairie Library System on Wednesday, November 10, 2010 from 1 pm to 2:30 pm Central time, thanks to a grant from GMR. All librarians are welcome to attend. Please register in L2. “The sponsorship of this webcast [...]

ILEAD U is the Illinois State Library’s initiative to help library staff understand and respond to user needs through the application of participatory technology tools and the creation of an easy-to-replicate model program. Made possible through a Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Grant, the first cohort of 8 ILEAD U teams met for their final [...]

Thanks to all of you that sent in emails supporting library system funding.  Each system will receive some of their monies from last fiscal year in the next few weeks. Lewis & Clark Library System – $188,015.98 Lincoln Trail Libraries System – $143,273.72 Rolling Prairie Library System – $136,320.00 Shawnee Library System – $248,531.34 Again, [...]

The Illinois Blue Book, published biennially by the Secretary of State’s office, is a comprehensive guide to Illinois state government and serves as an historical reference for years to come. The 2009-10 Illinois Blue Book is available by contacting: Secretary of State, Communications Department, 471 Howlett Bldg., Springfield, IL 62756; 217-785-8234. The Blue Book also [...]

Take Action Now Important library services that many Illinoisans take for granted could come to an end as early as this December when library systems run out of money. These systems, which have been running off reserve funding since the beginning of the fiscal year (July 2010-June 2011), will run out of money in December [...]

Library Systems in Illinois are faced with financial challenges that necessitate looking at every service offered by the system. The four Southern Systems (LCLS, LTLS, RPLS, SHLS) are in a collaborative planning process to develop a new structure for library cooperation.  We need your help by completing this survey in order for us to create [...]

On Thursday October 14, 2010, Rosanne Reidner and Jan Ison attended a meeting of the Illinois System Directors and Presidents. One the topics of the meeting was the Planning Process that the Southern Systems are engaged in. The following is a report of that planning from LTLS Board President, Rosanne Reidner: The Southern System Planning [...]

The next meeting of the Illinois Library System Presidents and Directors will be held on October 14, 2010 starting at 10:30 a.m. at the Lincoln Library, the public library of Springfield, IL.  This meeting is open to the public. For further information and the agenda, SP&DAgenda.

Just a friendly reminder that the Public Per Capita and Equalization grant is due on October 15th. Please don’t forget to attach your Technology Plan.  If you have already submitted your grant and you forgot to send your Technology Plan in — you can still submit it by sending it to Mary Downing attention at [...]

Last year, the Resource Guide was purchased for the public libraries.  Unfortunately this year, that donated purchase will not happen. If you are interested in purchasing the Resource Guide, it is $25.00 for the paper version or $10.00 for the guide on CD. Click here for more information.

IT’S NOT TOO LATE! The Reaching Forward South Conference for Library Support Staff is coming up October 7-8.  Have you submitted your registration? The deadline has been extended until October 1. Submit your registration today! For more conference information, please visit our web site: www.ReachingForwardSouth.org

The 2011 iREAD online store is now open.  Click here to shop for all your summer reading programming, incentives, decorations, and clothing. Children’s artwork for A Midsummer Knight’s Read was created by David Catrow, illustrator of numerous notable books for children, including Kathryn Lasky’s She’s Wearing a Dead Bird on Her Head!, which was named [...]

Jesse White, Secretary of State and State Librarian, and the Illinois State Library are pleased to announce that the eleventh annual Try-It! Illinois statewide database trial will be available October 1 through November 30, 2010.  Try-It! Illinois offers library staff and users an excellent opportunity to survey and evaluate a wide variety of electronic resources.  [...]

If you’re not able to attend the ILA conference in person, sign up for the ILA’s first ever Virtual Conference on Wednesday September 29th.   The program will feature highlights from the conference, with a focus on partnerships and planning.  Find out more at http://ila.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=285&Itemid=228

Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White and the Illinois State Library are pleased to announce that the FY2011 School District Library Grant application and related documents are now available at the State Library’s website: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/what_we_do/schoolpercapgrant.html The School District Library Grant Program, the first of its kind in the nation, is designed to help [...]

The Geek the Library public awareness campaign is designed to highlight the vital role of public libraries in today’s challenging environment and to increase awareness about public library funding. The campaign encourages libraries to engage with their communities and start important funding conversations. Geek the Library was born out of the findings in From Awareness [...]

Another school year is underway, which means high school students can sign up for the State Library’s highly acclaimed and hugely popular Read for a Lifetime program.  Now in its 13th year, Read for a Lifetime was the first statewide reading program to target high school students.  The primary goal of the program is to [...]

Here’s important information for public libraries that benefited from the Opportunity Online grant, phase one:  the Tech Atlas inventory serves as the report documenting that the appropriate number of computers were purchased with Opportunity Online phase one grant funds.  Timely completion demonstrates good stewardship of grant funds.    Libraries participating in the program must complete their [...]

Are you wrapping up your FY10 LSTA funded grant?  Please don’t forget to submit your final report by September 3 to the State Library.  The questions and information on how to submit your report are posted at:  http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/lda169.pdf

What are the best practices and planning for a digitization project? How can your staff gain the skills needed to launch or maintain a digital project and what are the implications of launching a long term digital preservation system in your organization? Find out how you can get the answers to these questions and more [...]

OCLC contracts are being prepared for mailing by the Illinois State Library and should begin arriving at libraries sometime next week.  Questions regarding contracts should be directed to Kathy Grimmett at 217-524-1272 or kgrimmett@ilsos.net. Additionally, FY11 OCLC fee invoices were mailed out this week from Lincoln Trail Libraries System, the State Library’s billing agent for [...]

Illinois Library Law requires public libraries of all types to have the Treasurer Bonded in an amount not less than 50% of the total funds received by the library in the last fiscal year.   75 ILCS 5/4-9 or 75 ILCS 16/30-45(e)  Some libraries have reported to the ILA Public Policy Committee (PPC) that they are [...]

Fall classes are now forming for the College of DuPage Library & Information Technology Program.  Take classes online, on-campus, or a hybrid combo. Check out the following pdf:  Download CODFall2010 Call or e-mail Carol Sturz, Coordinator, for further information. LTA webpage:  http://www.cod.edu/lta Ph: 630-942-2597 e-mail: sturzc@cod.edu Join us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LTAatCOD

The FY2011 Illinois Public Library Per Capita and Equalization Aid Grant application is now available at the Illinois State Library website: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/what_we_do/equalizationgrant.html. Per Capita Grant funding helps ensure that public libraries have some of the resources they need to address the needs of their patrons. Libraries count on Per Capita Grants for expenses such as [...]

There is a new ILDS label which should be used for all ILDS delivery.  Download the new label, here.

This year’s public per capita grant will be due on October 14, 2010.

Elaine Steingrubey, director at Morrison-Talbott Public Library, and Erica Pyle, director at Columbia Public Library, and I traveled to the Sparta and Okawville offices of Representative Reitz and Senator Luechtefeld to talk with them about the value of libraries and their importance to the legislators’ constituents.  We also shared with them the SNAPSHOT activities in [...]

The System appreciates your help in commenting on ways that you’ve thought of to make SNAPSHOT DAY a success.  Please use Conduit and its comment feature to share your thoughts with other members.  There is a new ILA website that provides you with all kinds of  forms to promote the day.  To begin with find [...]

In 2008-09, the Illinois State Library awarded an LTSA research grant to Lewis & Clark Library System to learn not what a library thought it needed for its community, but rather, to learn what a community needed from its library. The results were fascinating. Our Researching Communities to Prepare for the Future study gained in-depth [...]

As you all know, I am a proponent of knowing what information your county clerks have available for libraries. But it has been a while since I last climbed on this soapbox, so with tax levy ordinances being filed by library districts and municipalities now is the perfect time to remind you. In most states, the office of County [...]

As you know, changes have been made to the State’s Freedom of Information and Open Meetings Acts (FOIA and OMA). These changes go into effect 1 January 2010 with a compliance date of 1 July 2010. Please note additional information on these changes can be found on the LCLS Web site for FOIA, the Attorney [...]

Replacement taxes are revenues collected by the state of Illinois and paid to local governments  such as cities, villages, school districts among others, to replace money that was lost by local governments when their powers to impose personal property taxes on corporations, partnerships, and other business entities were taken away in the mid-1970′s. These taxes [...]

On Thursday, April 23 nineteen System and local library staff members visited with our legislators in Springfield to thank them for their past support of libraries and encourage them to continue that support.  This year we were able to see five of our seven senators and seven of our representatives who were very congenial and [...]

Mike Hayman and his student singing troupe from Collinsville Middle School created this video about using technology responsibly.  Have look, and share it with the youth in your library (or sing about it, whatever your prefer).

Many of us have been recipients of support from our legislative leaders through per capita grants, LSTA funds(federal dollars but need to be appropriated by the Illinois General Assembly, and discretionary funds directly from legislators.  This support has increased our facilities, programming, and materials collections. When we get emails asking us to contact legislators–federal or [...]

Ever at a loss for words when an official questions why the library needs more computers? Or when the school superintendent says the students have the school library, why do they need the public library? The American Library Association (ALA) has created two wonderful responses for  you to use, Job-seeking in U.S. Public Libraries and [...]

The Reference Department at the Mitchell Memorial Library, Mississippi State University, has created a LibGuide of resources about the crisis. Be sure to check it frequently over the next few months as they intend to continue updating it as the economic situation evolves.

Sunday, January 25, 2009 9:00 am – Information Session Candidates for President Elect: Kenton Oliver, Executive Director, Stark County Dist Library, Ohio Roberta Stevens, Outreach Projects & Partnerships Officer, LC, Washington DC Illinois Candidates for Councilor at Large: Nanette Donohue, Tech Services Manager, Champaign PL Tracie Hall, Principal Consultant, The GoodSeed Group, Chicago Gail Tobin, [...]

Just got a great link to information on how libraries can let their communities know of services they have to help folks through tough economic times.  While most have seen the video at the link below,  look farther down the page for pieces of a toolkit that can be used to be sure your patrons [...]