All workshops will be held from 9 - 12.

EYEOPENER (lots of good stuff this time):

1)  Planning for Results @ NILC Conference:  Each year, North Central LSA in Mason City sponsors an annual conference in partnership with the Northern Iowa Library Cooperative.  Attendance is open to public, school, or college libraries and always draws a statewide crowd.  This year’s topic for the 2-day event is Planning for Results, August 9-10, 2005 at the North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City.  Here’s a description:

“…If you thought that planning was too hard or too time-consuming to be practical or useful for your library, this conference is for you!  Sandra Nelson, author of The New Planning for Results: A Streamlined Approach, will teach library managers a process that can be used to create a forward-looking plan for any public library or school library media center, regardless of organizational structure or size.

Dynamic and flexible, The New Planning for Results will assist libraries, with shoestring or generous budgets, to anticipate and prepare for change.  Library managers will be equipped to survey the environment and transform services to effectively meet changing community needs…” {NCILSA website}

Early bird registration is $65.00 before August 1^st; after August 1^st, registration will be $75.00.  This conference is worth 15 credits.  A copy of New Planning for Results is required for this class; purchase information is included on the registration form. For the complete program schedule, building location, hotel information, and driving directions, go to North Central LSA’s website: http://www.nclsa.lib.ia.us/nilcconference.htm

Many of you have heard me sing the praises of PLA’s “For Results” series in general (there’s 5 titles out now) and the planning piece in particular.  To date, I’ve facilitated 7 Planning for Results projects for Northwest libraries in Emmetsburg, Estherville, Hawarden, Farnhamville, Lake City, and Denison, with Manson coming on this fall.  It’s a great model to follow and since Mason City is a do-able drive for many Northwest libraries, do take advantage of this opportunity to begin Planning for Results at your library.

2)  Newbies to EBSCO = Sign Up Soon:  Earlier this month, libraries that have not subscribed to EBSCOHost in previous years received a letter of encouragement from the State Library.  That letter outlined the many advantages of EBSCO access for  communities large and small, along with a listing of the databases and an order form.  

For Iowa’s public libraries, EBSCO is amazingly affordable thanks to a partnership between the State Library and the AEAs; they bear the majority of the cost for providing statewide access.  The local cost to subscribe to EBSCO is only $25.00 plus $.025 per capita (for public libraries)  If you need convincing, read this from the State Library’s letter: “…EBSCOHost is especially important for small libraries because it gives your community access to thousands more magazines that you could normally afford to buy.  For the price of 1-2 best sellers, you can make this wonderful information resource available to your community….accessed 24/7 from home or work.  Iowa public libraries should actively provide timely, accurate, and useful information for community residents.  Access to EBSCO supports this important role…”  {State Library}

The EBSCO databases contain literally thousands of magazines, most in full text, along with reference books like Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, EBSCO Animals, and Our States.  Don’t let lack of training hold you back.  Remember, NWILS can bring EBSCO training to-your-door.  Here’s hoping for 100% EBSCO sign-ups from Northwest libraries this year—call with any questions.

3)  Scholastic’s Sweepstakes For New Harry Potter Book:  Here’s a great story by way of PLA regarding this summer’s newest Harry Potter book Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, due out in mid-July.  Scholastic is holding a sweepstakes for public libraries nationwide to win the first author-signed copy of the American edition.  Scholastic is printing an unprecedented initial 10.8 million copies of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, a U.S. publishing record.

Any public library in the U.S. can take their chances by sending in the sweepstakes entry from this link on Scholastic’s website: http://www.scholastic.com/harrypotter/librarysweepstakes

In a move worthy of a covert CIA operation, here’s how the winning library will receive their prize: “…Author J. K. Rowling will sign the book in the United Kingdom, and it will travel to America under tight security to be presented to representatives from the winning public library and the winning city or town at Scholastic's corporate headquarters in New York City on the morning of July 15.  The book will then be kept on display under lock and key at Scholastic until the July 16, 12:01 a.m. release time.

"Harry Potter has been such a wonderful gift to readers, and we are thrilled that Scholastic has decided to hold a special Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince sweepstakes for public libraries,’ said ALSC President Gretchen Wronka.  ‘The winning public library and its community will treasure this very special copy of J.K. Rowling's sixth book.’ 

‘In 2003, Scholastic donated the first signed copy of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix to the New York Public Library.  For Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince we want to share that possibility with every town and city nationwide - no matter how large or small,’ said Scholastic Executive Vice-President Barbara Marcus. ‘Scholastic is committed to supporting our public libraries, and this seems a fitting way to recognize their importance, and to say thank you to communities across the U.S. that have embraced J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter’…”  {PLA Newsletter}

Bonnie McKewon
Director, Northwest Iowa Library Services

Conference program for the Joint Conference of the Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services and the Association of Rural and Small Libraries at http://www.clarion.edu/rural   .Link to joint conference.

Due Date:
NEILSA closed dates: 7/4, 9/5, 11/11& 24&25,  12/23 & 26, 1/2/6