Find a Book is designed to make reading and libraries part of our children’s summertime fun. One review of the impact of summer reading loss found that children can lose up to 60 percent of their skills during a summer vacation. Children who read during the summer months, however, can sustain their reading gains and are better prepared when school resumes in the fall.

The Find a Book tool uses a child’s Lexile® measure, a measure of reading ability and text complexity derived from state standardized tests, including the ISAT. Information about Lexile® is also available at http://www.isbe.net/find-a-book/default.htm.

Families are also urged to participate in the Illinois Library Association’s iRead Summer Reading Program. This year’s iRead theme is “Have a Book — Will Travel.” Learn more at http://www.ireadprogram.org/.

More information can be found on the LSSC Website.

The LSSC Program is also offering several informational webinars in February and March. Please visit the website for more information on the webinars and registering for them. 

The deadline to complete the survey is January 31. If you have any questions or contributions, please contact Aaron Schmidt at aaron@influx.us.

The weeklong Institute is intended for directors of small public libraries as well as directors of all sizes of libraries that are either new to their position or new to the Illinois library community. Key goals of the Institute are to assist public library administrators in better understanding their roles and responsibilities as well as how to provide better service to their constituents. Topics included for this year will range from legal and budgeting issues to policy development, innovative programs, building safety, leadership, customer service, and personnel. In addition, there are numerous opportunities for idea-sharing, networking, and team projects.

Participants are housed in individual rooms on the UIS campus during the week, and classes will take place on campus. The registration fee for this week is only $50, which includes housing, meals, speakers, and program materials. Applications can be mailed, faxed, or submitted as an email attachment and must be received by 5 pm, March 15, 2013.

For additional information, contact the ISL Library Development Group at,
1- 217-782-1891 or 1-800-665-5576.

Presented by: Barbara Blake, Outreach Coordinator for the PEARL Project, University of North Texas; and Louise W. Greene, Association for Rural and Small Libraries, Board Member, and PEARL Mentor.

Thursday, December 6, 2012 ♦ 1 pm CST ♦ 60 min ♦ Cost $0
REGISTER>>

Three ninety-minute workshops have been scheduled to discuss this year’s program, eligibility requirements, and the application and review process.  The schedule is provided below:

• October 25—Statewide videoconference from State Library, 1:30 p.m.
• November 1—Illinois Heartland Library System, Edwardsville – 10 a.m.
• Another workshop will be held at Reaching Across Illinois Library System in Burr Ridge at a later date.

Registration is not required, but is encouraged.

Understanding that libraries serve as the primary technology access point in many communities, C2C is collaborating with the American Library Association and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to ensure that librarians across the country are aware of this initiative.  To help ensure that public libraries have the support they need to engage as partners in C2C, this project is working with OCLC’s WebJunction, IMLS and several state libraries to build robust tools and online resources.

Computer Commons at Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional branch. Courtesy of Rob Dumas, Flickr.

Illinois, West Virginia and Mississippi are three test states working with C2C to establish some national models.

Public libraries in Illinois are asked to respond to a survey by October 19, 2012. The survey should take less than 20 minutes to complete. Responses will ensure a good foundation in Illinois to support the growth of digital literacy.

Questions and comments can be directed to Debra Aggertt, Illinois State Library daggertt@ilsos.net.

• When submitting your application, please include the city name in the subject line.
• You do not need to send a paper copy to the State Library once you have e-mailed you application to isl_grants@ilsos.net, ISL only needs the county clerk’s information.
• If you have submitted your application, but have not received an acknowledgement, please resend it just to be safe.

For questions on these procedures, please call 800-665-5576, ext.1, or e-mail isl_grants@ilsos.net.

While an original signature and seal from the county clerk(s) is no longer required,  a copy of the County Clerk Page(s) is required and must be sent to the Illinois State Library for verification purposes.

There are three ways you can submit this documentation:

• Scan the County Clerk Page(s) and send as an attachment with your application.
• Fax the County Clerk Page(s) to 217-782-1877.
• Mail the information on or before October 15 to the address provided below:

State Grants for Illinois Public Libraries
Illinois State Library
Gwendolyn Brooks Bldg.
300 S. Second St., Rm. 410
Springfield, IL 62701-1796

If you have questions regarding these procedures, please call the Illinois State Library at 1-800-665-5576, ext. 1, or email: isl_grants@ilsos.net.