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Standouts

Standouts
Congratulations to Anne Craig and Ron Winner
December 30th, 2008 | Permalink | Comment?

Congratulations to State Library Director Anne Craig and State Data Coordinator Ron Winner as recipients of the Francis Keppel Award.

The Francis Keppel Awards were presented recently during the annual Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Public Library Statistics Cooperative State Data Coordinator Conference in Washington, D.C. The award is presented annually to both the State Library Chief Officer and the State Data Coordinator, and is given for submitting prompt, complete, and high-quality public library data.

The honor is named after Francis Keppel, a U.S. Commissioner of Education, who served from 1962 to 1965. He also served as a distinguished member of the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) from 1978 to 1983.

Dr. Keppel was an early and enthusiastic advocate of reliable and regularly reported national, state, and local library statistics that would provide a basis for public policy formulation and the improvement of library services to the entire spectrum of the U.S. population.
General, Standouts
iRead Poster Contest Winner Announced
November 10th, 2008 | Permalink | Comment?

The iREAD Committee is pleased to announce that the winner of the 2010 Scare Up a Good Book YA Poster Contest, as well as $1000, is artist Michaela from the Morrison Talbot Public Library (Lewis & Clark Library System) with Poster C.

The committee congratulates Michaela and thanks everyone who participated in any way.
Standouts
Sharon Ball honored with 2008 ISLMA Polestar Award
October 27th, 2008 | Permalink | Comment?

The Illinois School Library Media Association has chosen to honor Sharon Ball of the North Suburban Library System with the 2008 Polestar Award. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to school library media programs in Illinois.

The awards committee writes: “Sharon Ball has made an invaluable contribution to her profession and to the students of Illinois. We believe that her work in the field of school librarianship shows her commitment to ever improving library services in her system and in the state of Illinois.”

You can celebrate with Sharon at the ISLMA Conference on Friday, November 7 at the Sheraton Chicago Northwest in Arlington Heights beginning at 6:30 p.m. (conference attendance not required). Don’t delay; banquet registration deadline is this Monday, October 27.
Standouts
Skokie Public Library Honored with Highest Award
October 13th, 2008 | Permalink | Comment?

First Lady Laura Bush awarded five museums and five libraries the 2008 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor, at a White House ceremony on October 7. Each year, the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), in coordination with the White House, presents the National Medal to 10 museums and libraries in recognition of their extraordinary civic, educational, economic, environmental, and social contributions. This year, one of those winners was Skokie Public Library, Skokie, IL.

In addition to the National Medal, each institution receives a $10,000 award. This is the second year that IMLS has presented the National Medals to 10 institutions. In previous years, the National Medal was known as the National Award for Museum and Library Service and was awarded to three museums and three libraries.
Standouts
Congratulations to Alexandra Tyle-Annen of Homer Township Public Library
October 13th, 2008 | Permalink | Comment?

The American Library Association (ALA) has announced the librarians who will participate in the Emerging Leaders (EL) 2009 program. The EL program, which is in its third year, will enable more than 100 librarians from across the country to participate in project planning workgroups; network with peers; gain an inside look into ALA structure; and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity. Congratulations to Alexandra Tyle-Annen, Adult Services Director at the Homer Township Public Library, who has been selected as one of the 100 emerging leaders!
Standouts
Congratulations Andrew Bullen!
October 6th, 2008 | Permalink | Comment?

Andrew Bullen, ISL Coordinator of Information Technology, has just published an article in this month’s Computers in Libraries – “The ‘Long Tale’: Using Web 2.0 Concepts to Enhance Digital Collections.”
News, Standouts
Congratulations Sharon Ruda
August 18th, 2008 | Permalink | Comment?

The Illinois State Library was thrilled to learn that the Illinois Library Association has named Sharon Ruda, Associate Director, ISL Talking Book & Braille Service, their 2008 Librarian of the Year. Sharon will receive her award at the ILA annual conference at Navy Pier in Chicago next month. ISL Director Anne Craig received the same award in 2006. Congratulations to Sharon on a well-deserved honor that reflects the outstanding work performed by the TBBS staff.
Standouts
Congratulations to Lou Anne Jacobs
August 12th, 2008 | Permalink | Comment?

The Alliance Library System is thrilled to announce that Lou Ann Jacobs has been awarded the Robert McClarren Legislative Development Award by the Illinois Library Association in recognition of her tireless work promoting school libraries. Lou Ann will be recognized at the ILA Awards Ceremony Thursday September 25th.
Standouts
Congratulations to the Mississippi Valley Library District!
July 14th, 2008 | Permalink | Comment?

In 2004 when the Collinsville Memorial Library District decided to change its name to the Mississippi Valley Library District, it was with the idea that if the district ever opened another library in its area, the new library satellite would have the name of the community for personality and ownership reasons for its constituents.

On June 1, 2008 the MVLD opened a small satellite library in a small classroom in the Fairmont City community to test the viability of maintaining a service for the outreaches of its boundaries and to test the reactions of the people to the effort. The Fairmont City Library Center now joins the Collinsville Memorial Library Center in the Mississippi Valley Library District.

The Mississippi Valley Library District is located in the MetroEast portion of Illinois just adjacent to St. Louis, Mo. in the Lewis and Clark Library System. Today it covers the communities of Collinsville, Caseyville, State Park and Fairmont City. A total of approximately 35,000 residents voted in 2006 to join the then library district serving only the city limits of Collinsville.

The Fairmont City Library Center was only to remain open for the months of June and July of this year but with less than one month of service time in the community, MVLD was approached by an interested group to make the Center more permanent. The American Legion of Fairmont City has been struggling for a number of years to remain open due to declining membership. Some of its officers approached the Board of Trustees of the Library District and offered a partnership that would allow the Library Center to share parts of its existing building with the American Legion. The offer was gladly accepted and both groups are now working toward moving the collection of books and other various media to the new location at the end of July and opening again in mid-August.

One of the interesting aspects of the new Library Center is that it will share the building with an existing American Legion bar. With assurances from noted library lawyer Phil Lenzini, the Board and the community of Fairmont City has been assured that this will not cause any conflicts legally.

The Fairmont City Library Center will serve a previously large unserved Illinois area. So at this time the Board of Trustees and the Staff at the Mississippi Valley Library District would like to proudly announce the birth of the newest library service in a successful growing Illinois community of libraries!
Standouts
Coal City Public Library District Runner Up in 2008 *For Dummies* Library Display Contest
June 20th, 2008 | Permalink | Comment?

In February, the Coal City Public Library District demonstrated its yellow and black “For Dummies” spirit by uniquely showcasing the books of Wiley Publishing in participation of a display contest offered to libraries nationwide. With the help of Albert Einstein and the Three Stooges, the library created an eye-catching book display.

Library staff wore “For Dummies” nametags and patrons were invited to share in the fun as well. The library offered a “For Dummies” raffle prize to those who checked out a “For Dummies” book. Patrons also had a chance to win smaller prizes by answering surprise pop “Dummies” questions at the circulation desk.

Coal City Public Library District placed first runner-up out of approximately 200 libraries that had entered the contest. Savannah Carpenter, who organized the display and activities with the help of fellow staff members, was shocked when “Wiley Publishing” showed up on the phone’s caller ID. The Wiley representative said that one of the reasons they chose Coal City Public Library District as a winner was for their creativity.

“The teamwork and cooperation of the entire library staff is what made the win possible,” said Carpenter. “Everyone really got into the ‘Dummies’ spirit.”

For their achievement, the library won 40 free “For Dummies” books of their choice and a trophy. They also received numerous “For Dummies” gifts including: duffle bags, backpacks, flexible computer keyboards, t-shirts, tote bags, and other items. From these gifts, the library created raffle prizes available to patrons who check out a “For Dummies” book. In addition, Wiley Publishing also provided the Coal City Public Library District staff with a pizza party!

Pictures of the “For Dummies 2008 Library Display Contest” winning entries can be viewed online.