To access the Bibliostat Collect site, you will need to know your library’s Illinois State Library User Name and Password.  If you need assistance with your ISL User Name/Password, contact Becky Hunter, Illinois State Library, bhunter1@ilsos.net, 217-782-7849, or 1-800-665-5576 x1.  You will also need Adobe version 6.0 or higher for PDF printing.

For questions regarding content/subject matter and edit checks, contact Robert Jones, Illinois State Library, rjones1@ilsos.net, 217-785-1168, or 1-800-665-5576 x1.  For questions about software and technology issues, contact the Bibliostat Help Desk, 1-866-785-9935.

An adult learner entered the program at Robinson Public Library District with marginal literacy skills. He had been in special education classes, but dropped out of school during his freshman year. His attitude was one of defeat — he would seldom make eye contact, communicated little and had very little confidence in himself. The man attended tutoring sessions for a few months, but, unfortunately dropped out when he could no longer travel to classes.

After a year he decided to try again, and this time seemed more determined. During his year away, the man had looked for a job and was unable to obtain one because prospective employers told him he needed a GED. After working with a tutor, the man improved his reading and writing skills enough to begin studying for the GED test. After taking the GED test, he brought the results to the program staff to share his achievement. He had received a perfect score on the science test! Staff encouraged him to visit Lincoln Trail College to see what program might work for him. The man enrolled in a new program, Process Technology, and is now working as an intern at a local ethanol plant.

The Illinois Emerging Writers Competition is an annual contest sponsored by the Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White and the Illinois Center for the Book that provides an outlet for unpublished poets and short story writers. Roeback won for his short story, Catharsis/Cox, and Croom for her short story, Twenty-five Years is Silver.

The 2011 James Jones Short Story Award Winners are Paul Heitz of Elmhurst for his short story Water Music, Irene Sedeora of Morton for her short story Arenal, and Camille Bromley of Bloomington for her short story The World is Made of Hello and Goodbye.

Applicants will need a control and branch number to access the application. Please email Jo Anne Hughes at jhughes@ilsos.net to obtain your agency’s numbers.

Forty scholarships covering the cost of the registration fee, conference supplied meals and a two-night hotel stay are being awarded. The scholarship does not cover travel or incidentals.  The deadline to submit scholarship applications is January 30. Scholarship recipients will be announced in early February. You can find the scholarship application here.

For questions or comments, please email Gwen Harrison at gharrison@ilsos.net or call her at 217-785-7334.

The program has now concluded in Illinois and has been an overwhelming success. The State Library awarded $1,012,050 in Opportunity Online Grant funds provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. 109 Illinois library agencies representing 120 library buildings successfully completed all of the requirements for the program.

One of the key components of the program required grantees to raise matching funds equal to or exceeding the partial value of the computers donated. The required match was a useful tool in building local partnerships and practicing advocacy.

Libraries successfully raised $583,778 in matching funds:

• $189,577 from public funds
• $45,298 from foundations or corporations
• $348,903 from fundraising activities and general donations

Participating libraries took part in Turning the Page, an advocacy training program provided by the Public Library Association to build confidence and skills for raising the matching funds.

Using a combination of grant dollars and matching funds, 690 new public access computers were purchased and installed for the benefit of library users in communities across Illinois. These computers, with e-mail and Internet access, are vital tools to help people find jobs, further their education, conduct research and share ideas.

In January, the State Library will submit the final report on behalf of all libraries to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Congratulations to all of the participating libraries! Find a list of the libraries that took part at the WebJunction Illinois website.

The two new sites are Four Star Public Library in Mendon, and Mississippi Valley Library District in the Fairmont City Library Center. The returning site is Lincoln Library, the Public Library of Springfield.

Other PNG programs are located in Alton, Beardstown, Bloomington, Carbondale, Centralia, Champaign, Danville, Decatur, Elmwood Park, Freeport, Harrisburg, Joliet, Kankakee, Peoria, Richton Park and Sparta. Learn more about Project Next Generation at the Find-It! Illinois website.

Return forms to Jeanne Urbanek, Illinois State Library, Gwendolyn Brooks Bldg., 300 S. Second St., Springfield, IL 62701-1796; or fax to 217-782-1877. Jeanne’s e-mail address is jurbanek@ilsos.net.

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The Illinois State Library needs to know how you use participatory technology tools, sometimes referred to as Web/Library 2.0 tools. They are interested in your comments to develop possible new continuing education opportunities. Please take a moment to complete this simple eight-question survey by NEXT MONDAY.