The LIS endorsement prepares state-certified teachers to take positions in school media centers. To see the Illinois State Board of Education’s (ISBE) Endorsement Schedule for the February 1, 2012 changes, click here.

East Peoria, Ill. — Graduates of the Illinois Central College Library Assistant Program will be eligible for national certification by the American Library Association – Allied Professional Association. That certification is referred to as Library Support Staff Certification. The ALA-APA made this announcement after reviewing ICC’s program and finding the LSSC’s competency requirements are covered in the coursework.

The LSSC, which is becoming a standard for library professionals, shows employers in Illinois, as well as nationwide, that the graduates are serious about their work and future in the profession, says Lorelle Swader, ALA-APA director. “ICC graduates will be recognized for their skills and knowledge with this national certification,” she said.

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Although she dropped out of high school, this 59-year-old adult learner always intended to obtain her GED. In fact, when she was in her 20’s, she attended a GED class in another state. The woman overheard her tutor saying that she was a “low-level reader,” which hurt her feelings so much that she quit the class.

Recently, the woman moved to Quincy to care for her ailing mother. She was able to transfer from the Indiana pharmacy she worked at to one in Quincy; however, the company now required all employees to have a high school diploma or GED. She worried that she wouldn’t be able to pass the GED test at age 59. She visited the literacy program at John Wood Community College, and was matched with an experienced tutor. She studied hard and successfully obtained her GED.

She is now studying for her pharmacy tech certificate and says her life would be quite different if she hadn’t been part of the John Wood literacy program.

The newsletter discusses Public Act 97-597, which was signed into law by Governor Pat Quinn on August 29, 2011. The new law amends the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), alleviating demands placed on public bodies.

Ms. Bednar brings a diversity of experience to this position, including posts at the National Council of Teachers of English, the Champaign Public Library and Southwestern Illinois College.  Her work at the Lewis and Clark Library System included positions as a cataloger, database coordinator, GateNet Manager and Executive Director.

IHLS Board President, Karen Bounds, remarked: “Those of us who have worked with her have come to know and appreciate all that Leslie brings to systems.  Please join me in wishing her all the best in her new role!”

The State Library, our Talking Book and Braille Service and the Illinois Center for the Book thank the following organizations for partnering with us on The Big Read in Central Illinois:  Charles E. Becker Library of Benedictine University; Chatham Area Public Library; Jacksonville Public Library; Lincoln Library, the Public Library of Springfield; Prairie Skies Public Library District of Pleasant Plains and Ashland; Quiddity International Library Journal and Public Radio Program; Rochester Public Library; Sherman Public Library District; Brookens Library of the University of Illinois Springfield; and Williamsville Public Library.

You may still find photos from various Big Read in Central Illinois events and other information at http://icftb.org/bigread/.

“I am extremely proud of the outstanding service Illinois’ public libraries provide to our communities,” White said. “Our public libraries have never be more important to the patrons they serve.  They have helped citizens enormously during recent difficult economic times by providing free Internet access, e- mail, books, CDs, DVDs and other materials. Offering such service reinforces my belief that libraries are truly cornerstones of our communities.”

Per Capita Grant funding is authorized under Illinois library law and helps ensure that public libraries have some of the most important resources they need to address the needs of their patrons. Libraries count on Per Capita Grants for expenses such as paying for materials, personnel, equipment, electronic access, telecommunications and technology. Equalization Aid Grants are important because they help public libraries that have a low library tax base, and help ensure a minimum level of funding for library services.

Project Compass Workshops are scheduled throughout the State to help public library staff increase their knowledge of available resources and handle the service needs of unemployed and job-seeking patrons. In an economy where more must be done with less, these workshops will also address how libraries can utilize existing resources and partnerships. 

The goal of Project Compass is to support the workforce recovery efforts of libraries, particularly in counties with high unemployment. The program will introduce library staff to programs and services which they can deliver to job-seekers in their communities. Workshops are free of charge to eligible participants.

Following is the list of workshops already scheduled:

• Peoria Heights Public Library, April 1
• South Central Transit Training Facility, Centralia, April 15
• Danville Public Library, May 6
• LaSalle Public Library, May 13
• Bourbonnais Public Library, May 18
• Cherry Valley Public Library District, May 20
• Lewis and Clark Library System, Edwardsville, June 3
• Bensenville Public Library, June 10
• Taylorville Public Library, June 20
• Carthage, Carl Sandburg College, July 13

For additional information on these workshops and participant eligibility please send an email to Bill Erbes at projectcompass@benlib.org.

Project Compass is brought to Illinois public libraries by the Division of Library and Information Services, in conjunction with WebJunction/OCLC, as part of a grant funded by the Institute of Museum of Library Services.

Recent decisions made have resulted in the announcement of new names for the 2 library systems that are intended to form as of July 1, 2011. Following are announcements regarding these names:

• At it’s 22 March 2011 meeting, the Merger Transition Board voted to adopt Reaching Across Illinois Library System – with the acronym RAILS – as the name for the new system. Special thanks to Diane Paulini (at Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare’s Marquardt Memorial Library in MLS) for suggesting that name last month. Thanks also to everyone who participated in the naming process.
• As of February the planning panel for the southern Systems merger approved the name of the merged system as Illinois Heartland Library System

For more information on the progress of mergers please visit the following sites:

Cooperation Today – http://www.cooperationtoday.org/
Merger 2011 – http://www.systemsmerger.info/

Year Two of ILEAD U just started, but a team of Year One ILEAD U participants and the model program they developed were the subject of a lengthy article in the Peoria Journal Star newspaper this week.

Congratulations to featured representatives Nancy Scott, head librarian at Eureka Public Library; Ann Reeves, associate director of the Eureka library; Shane Howard, public service manager at Farmington Public Library; Karen Bersche, director of Towanda District Library; and Ruth Shasteen, librarian at Central A&M High School.