Contents

Announcements

The Public Library Certification Page is now available on the MLS website at http://www.mls.lib.il.us/members/PLMembershipCertificationForm.pdf. This certification, requiring board signature, is a requirement of system membership. Public library members must submit this form to MLS no later than December 31st, 2009.

Reciprocal Borrowing Agreements have been released by MLS for public library members wishing to have continued access to the Reciprocal Borrowing credit/debit and collection agency service after January 1st, 2010. Documents and an explanatory memo can be found at http://www.mls.lib.il.us/resource_sharing/reciprocal_borrowing.asp. Questions contact Kate Boyle at boylek@mls.lib.il.us.

Youth Services staff in all MLS Public Libraries are being asked to complete the YS Advisory Gaming survey http://www.mls.lib.il.us/YSAdvisoryGamingSurvey2009.asp . The survey is part of the on-going Gaming 2.0 project by MLS YS Advisory asking the question, "What hasn't been focused on yet with regard to gaming in libraries?”. The survey results will be shared with the entire membership. Questions contact Christina Stoll at stollc@mls.lib.il.us.

More than seventy representatives from the Illinois library community came together at Allerton Park and Retreat Center in Monticello on Monday, November 9, 2009 for the Summit on the Future of Illinois Library Cooperation. Led by facilitator Maureen Sullivan, the purpose of the gathering was to discuss the future prospects for cooperation among all types of libraries in Illinois. To read more go to http://www.ila.org/pub/reporter.htm. To provide any comments, suggestions, and feedback go to http://www.ila.org/blog/.

In January, ALA is launching a new certification program entitled, Library Support Staff Certification (LSSC). Lincoln Trail Libraries System is one of five testing sites for the program and will offer one of the core classes, "Foundations for Library Services". For more information go to http://www.lincolntrail.info/lssc.html

[Permalink]

MLS Board Highlights

Highlights from the MLS Board Meeting held on November 16, 2009 include:

• Approved new or restored membership for Bellwood School District 88, Hales Franciscan School, Riverdale School District 133 and Berwyn North School District 98.
• Approved notifying Calument City Public Library of the ramifications of failure to meet membership standards.
• Recognized Kate Boyle for 30 years of service to SLS/MLS.

Highlights from ISLMA Conference 2009

A call went out to MLS members who attended this year’s ISLMA conference and were interested in sharing with the rest of the membership what they took away from the conference, the speakers they heard, and the sessions they attended. Check out what your fellow MLS library members had to say. [Permalink]
Read full article http://www.mls.lib.il.us/ennounce/2009/03_22/islma09.asp

Continuing Education Events

Attention: Please note that if you do not receive an email confirmation you have not been registered for a workshop. The subject line in the email will read "{L2}Confirmation Transaction". To verify registration please contact Yvonne Riley at (630) 734-5118.

Supervisors' Series: Practical Tip for Hiring and Firing Staff Susan Pasetti, SPHR and Kathy Roegge, December 9, 2009, 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., MLS Burr Ridge

YA Publishing Trends and New YA Books Michael Cart, December 11, 2009, 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., MLS Burr Ridge

LIS Online Career Fair January 12, 2010, 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., MLS Chicago

[Permalink]

Grants and Awards

Live and Learn Construction Grant Program. Applications and information regarding the Illinois State Library FY2010 Live and Learn Public Library Construction Grant Program are now available at the State Library at http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/what_we_do/constructgrant.html.
The State Library is also conducting two more Live and Learn Construction Grant workshops. The dates and locations are November 19 through the Statewide video teleconference system at 1:30 p.m. and November 24 in the ISL OPAL Room at 10 a.m. Register for the workshops at https://www.librarylearning.info/.

If you have questions or want more information, contact Neil Kelley at nkelley@ilsos.net (217-782-1891) or Mark Shaffer at mshaffer@ilsos.net (217-524-4901).

[Permalink]

Library Law: When a Bidder Fails to Follow Bidding Instructions

Boards of library trustees of local libraries and library districts get precious little guidance from their governing statutes when it comes to seeking bids and then letting contracts for capital improvement projects. Library boards are only directed to “advertise for bids” when the estimated cost for the project is in excess of $20,000.00. The contract is then to be let to the “lowest responsible bidder” as the library board shall determine. The larger the project, the more complex are the bid requirements and even though it is customary for boards to include in the advertisement a reservation of the right to “waive any technicalities and/or irregularities in the bid,” when is the library board on firm legal ground when it rejects a bid as “nonresponsive” - meaning the bidder has failed to follow bidding instructions? [Permalink]
Read full article http://www.mls.lib.il.us/ennounce/2009/03_22/bidding.asp

Member Spotlight: Butler Children's Literature Center

On January 10, 2009 the Butler Children’s Literature Center was dedicated at Dominican University. Attending the opening was Jon Scieszka, author of notable children’s books such as The True Story of the Three Little Pigs and Caldecott honor book The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. Administered by the Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS) the Butler Children’s Literature Center is located in the Rebecca Crown Library at the University’s main campus at 7900 West Division Street in River Forest, Illinois. [Permalink]
Read full article http://www.mls.lib.il.us/ennounce/2009/03_22/butler.asp

Next Issue

The next issue of MLS E-nnounce will appear December 2, 2009. [Permalink]

MLS Links

Board of Directors
Calendar of Events
Jobs
Membership Directory
Staff Directory

MLS Services

Consulting & CE
Delivery
LIMRiCC
Resource Sharing
SWAN

[RSS] [PDF Version]

Subscribe

Unsubscribe

Editors

Christina Stoll, stollc@mls.lib.il.us

Kathy Roegge, roeggek@mls.lib.il.us