Did you know that the Illinois State Library is a member of the Route 66 Archives and Research Collaboration (ARC)?  Eight states partner in this initiative sponsored by the National Park Service.

Route 66, the legendary highway, ran through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. The mission of the Route 66 ARC is to make research and oral history materials accessible to the general public and Route 66 researchers for the purpose of education, preservation and management of the historic Route 66 corridor.

The State Library’s resources include books, maps and periodicals about Route 66, along with links to significant Route 66 collections in the Illinois Digital Archives. They also maintain a file on Route 66 topics and the personal file of the Route 66 Association of Illinois founder, the late Tom Teague. Donated collections include Mt. Olive Service Station’s ledgers and a historic run of state Route 66 association newsletters collected by historian and author Keith Sculle.  Check out this great resource today!

This week the Illinois State Library spotlights Black Hawk College in Moline.

An adult learner who began to attend classes at Black Hawk was extremely emotional. During a typical session with a tutor, the student might giggle like a silly teenager or begin to cry. Her mind darted from subject to subject as fast as her emotions changed, and she couldn’t  focus on a single task.

After working with a tutor, the woman became more focused and increased confidence allowed her to take pride in her successes. She began to learn more quickly and her reading skills improved dramatically. Eventually she even learned to control her emotions. This adult learner gained true self confidence and believes she on her way to a better life.

Venturing into the Future is the 16th annual conference for Library Support Staff presented by The Reaching Forward South Committee.  This year’s conference will be held on Thursday September 20th and Friday September 21st at the Northfield Inn in Springfield, Illinois.

Thursday’s kick off events include an Illinois Author’s Tea from 2-4:30 and a wine, cheese, and chocolate networking hour immediately after the tea.

On Friday September 21st , the day begins at 8 a.m. with a continental breakfast.  The keynote speaker is Dan Schneider who will present “Fonix of the Future.”  Immediately following are a series of educational breakout sessions.  Breakout session topics include: Programing with Pizzazz, Staff Safety, Library Technology, Art of the Upsell, ebooks, and What .gov can do for You and Your Patrons. After lunch, join featured speaker, Deb DiSandro, with her “slightly off” view on life as she presents  “Take Two Ho-Ho’s and Call Me in the Morning.”  The conference will adjourn by 3 p.m.

Join the conference for both days for a cost of $75.00.  Be sure to check out the Reaching Forward South website for more information about breakout sessions, the nomination form for Support Staff Person of the Year, and the registration form for the conference. Questions can be directed to contact@reachingforwardsouth.org

“E-Books and Libraries: What’s Next?”
presented by The Public Library Association

Thursday, May 8, 2012 ♦ 1 pm CST ♦ 60 min
Cost: $28.00=PLA Member, $31.50=ALA Member, $35.00=Nonmember
Group Registration (any size): $129.00

The library e-book market is constantly shifting as publishers and distributers identify their e-book business models and protocols. Many library professionals are frustrated by the limitations and uncertainty the developing market presents, but there are steps you can take to bring a little more certainty to your library and forge your own e-books model. Learn about outside-of-the-box, innovative options to provide quality e-book services to your patrons during PLA’s upcoming hour-long webinar, “E-Books and Libraries: What’s Next?”

Instructor Jamie LaRue, director, Douglas County (Colo.) Libraries, has sidestepped the “traditional” e-book model and found viable and successful alternatives to provide e-books to the Douglas County community. Hear about models that you can replicate at your library and gain a better understanding of options available for libraries striving to offer their patrons the best e-books service possible.

Register>>
DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR THIS WEBINAR IS 4:30 PM CST ON FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2012.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012 ♦ 1 pm CST ♦ 60 min ♦ Cost: $0

Join us for a discussion exploring lifelong learning as an economic driver in the 21st century and the expanding role of libraries in this “era of the learner.” Building on discussions about 21st century skills and workforce development, we’ll hear from futurist Garry Golden on the changing workforce and the role that public libraries can play. We’re excited to take a glimpse into the future and to hear how libraries can identify changes, explore implications and pave the way for learners in the 21st century. This session will build on discussions from a face-to-face convening to be held in April, but will benefit and be of interest to all working in libraries.

Presented by: Garry Golden, Futurist, Forward Elements

Go to Registration Page >>

The new codes are location based, rather than specific to the prior system designations. The new codes will be implemented in the ILDS label/manifest system, grouping all of the system codes at the bottom of the pull down menu. The paper ILDS label also will be updated and available on the ILDS website on May 1 here.

The new three-letter codes for system service centers (and the codes they replace) are:

New Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS) Codes
XBR — RAILS, Burr Ridge (formerly MLS)
XCV — RAILS, Coal Valley (formerly PAC)
XEP — RAILS, East Peoria (formerly ALS)
XGV — RAILS, Geneva (formerly DLS)
XRF — RAILS, Rockford (formerly PAR)
XSW — RAILS, Shorewood (formerly PAS)
XWH — RAILS, Wheeling (formerly NSL)

New Illinois Heartland Library System (IHLS) Codes
ZCA — IHLS, Carterville (formerly SHL)
ZCH — IHLS, Champaign (formerly LTL)
ZDE — IHLS, Decatur (formerly RPL)
ZED — IHLS, Edwardsville (formerly LCL)

Please notify the appropriate staff at your location about these changes.

This week the Illinois State Library spotlights Asian Human Services in Chicago.

An Iraqi student lived in the United States for three years before beginning English as a Second Language classes at Asian Human Services. Prior to working with a tutor, she would guess at words she didn’t know because she lacked the skills to break down words into syllables in order to speak and comprehend.

A tutor was assigned to help her work on phonics, word recognition, speaking and writing simple sentences. The two women developed a friendship, and with the tutor’s help, the student gained confidence and improved her ability to form complete sentences. Hard work and dedication enabled her to succeed. She is now fluent enough that she shared her story about her move to the United States at the Chicago Northside Literacy Coalition’s “Night of a Thousand Stars” event last year.

On April 18, Illinois Library Day, library advocates from across the state met with legislators in Springfield to advocate for Illinois libraries. Several RAILS Board members joined RAILS President Alan Davidson at the Capitol to urge lawmakers to support budgets submitted by Secretary of State Jesse White and Governor Quinn. Budget proposals from both the Governor and Secretary of State would keep state grant funding for libraries and library systems at current amounts in fiscal year 2013. Amidst the state’s continuing fiscal crisis and as lawmakers grapple with vexing budget challenges, this promises to be a difficult session.

Your support is vital in the campaign to sustain state funding for libraries at current levels. Please refer to the handy legislative toolkit on the ILA website for more on how you can help. Take a few moments, contact your legislator, and make a difference today!

A proposed rule change amending the Illinois State Library Grant program (23 Ill. Adm. Code 3035) has been filed that will allow grants to be submitted through the Internet. Libraries will be required to annually certify their regional library system membership status to be eligible for grants (Section 3035.135 (a)).

The Illinois State Library Advisory Committee approved a recommendation for the certification process at its January 12, 2012 meeting. Both the Reaching Across Illinois Library System and Illinois Heartland Library System have approved resolutions adding an annual completion of certification process to the requirements for system membership.

Other changes in the rulemaking include increasing the maximum amount of a Live and Learn Construction Program mini-grant from $25,000 to $35,000 (Section 3035.435 (c)) and incorporating the Illinois State Library Talking Book and Braille Service (23 Ill. Adm. Code 3025) as Subpart F of Part 3035. The full text of the rulemaking can be found on page 5770 of the April 13, 2012 issue of the Illinois Register.

The word “bandstand” resurfaced last week with the passing of legendary American Bandstand creator Dick Clark. Here’s a photo of a bandstand of a different sort, featuring the Libertyville band in front of the Central Park bandstand in 1921.

The Illinois Digital Archives is a great resource for historic images, government docs, newspapers and much much more!