WLA Foundation Scholarships Available: Apply by June 15

Save yourself some cash; apply for a continuing or library education scholarship by June 15.  The WLA Foundation offers 2 continuing education and 4 library education scholarships each year. If you are working towards your MLS or need extra support to attend an upcoming conference, take advantage of the opportunity to earn one of these scholarships.

In addition, some WLA units offer grants to attend the WLA Conference. Deadlines for these grants vary.

Awards Nominations Due June 1: Recognize Excellence!

Recognize excellence in libraries by submitting a nomination for a WLA award by June 1. Librarians, trustees, friends, community leaders and libraries are all eligible to be nominated for one or more of these awards:

• Library of the Year
• DEMCO/WLA Librarian of the Year
• Citation of Merit
• Special Service Award
• Highsmith Award
• Muriel Fuller Award
• Trustee of the Year

Check out more information about each award, including nomination forms, and help WLA recognize excellence!

Book Your WLA Hotel Accommodations Now!

Book Your WLA Hotel Accommodations Now!

The 2012 Wisconsin Library Association Conference, “Libraries: For the Common Good,” is quickly approaching!  Mark your calendars for October 23-26 for a great educational sessions, opportunities to network with your colleagues and a chance to visit with exhibitors.

Hotel lodging will be available at the Radisson Hotel La Crosse, located at 200 Harborview Plaza, La Crosse, 54601.

You can reserve online or by calling the hotel.

To reserve online, go to Radisson Book a Hotel at http://www.radisson.com/reservation/itineraryEntrance.do?tool=more&newSearch=true (this is the link for Radisson‚s Book a Hotel/Redeem Gold Points).  The online reservation promotional code is: WILIBR

Under Book a Hotel/Redeem Gold Points, enter your date for Check-in and Check-out plus # of Rooms, Adults, Children
Below is a box labeled Promotional Code: enter WILIBR
Far right of Check-in and Check-Out, click on Find Rate (this provides the standard hotel rate of $129, plus upgrades)

To call in, phone the Radisson Hotel La Crosse at (608) 784-6680 or their national toll-free reservation line at (800) 333-3333.

The deposit policy for individual reservations is one night (plus 13.5% tax) at the time your reservation is made.  Cancellation is 48 hours prior to arrival to avoid penalties.  Parking for overnight guests is complimentary.

Your reservation in the WLA Conference Room Block supports the conference and the Association!

Rhonda Puntney Gould

2012 WLA Conference Publicity Chair

Grand Opening: Prairie du Sac Public Library

Join the Prairie du Sac Public Library in his new location and under its new name:  Ruth Culver Community Library, 540 Water Street. 

The library plans a day long celebration with special activities on Saturday, June 16, 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.: 

• 9:30 a.m. Ribbon Cutting & Dedication

• 10:00 a.m. Music by Bob and Marita Kelter

• 11:00 a.m. Little Miss Ann (Musical Children's Performer)
  Sponsored by Tracey and Patrick Taggart, II

• 12:30 p.m. Music by Matt Brennan and an ensemble of students

• 12:30 p.m. Meet Scoopie!

• 1:45 p.m. Music by Wrannock (Mike Mossman & Lisa Hartmann) 

 
Congratulations to the Prairie du Sac library and community!

Bob Bocher, Retiring But Not Entirely (Whew)

As most probably know, Bob Bocher, Library Technology Coordinator at DPI, is retiring in mid-June. While we had an informal party for him (and colleagues Roxane Bartelt and David Weinhold) at the recent WAPL Conference, we are heartened to learn that he'll continue helping libraries through his work as an ALA OITP Fellow. Here's a tribute to Bob in a recent ALA District Dispatch:

http://www.districtdispatch.org/2012/05/thanking-a-friend/

There's a comment in the post about Wisconsinites liking beer. Everyone knows we only drink it because Bob likes it.

Don't miss the Lake Superior Libraries Symposium (and Taco Bar)!

Time is running out to join the Lake Superior Libraries Symposium (and enjoy Glorious Taco Bar.)


The 2012 Lake Superior Libraries Symposium would like to extend an invitation to our inaugural conference on June 1^st, 2012 at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College in Superior, WI.  Join archivists, technologists, librarians, directors, technicians, and students from around Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula. Just consider all of the experiences, resources, and ideas that are being gathered for this unique conference!   Attendees will:

·     SEE ELI NEIBERGER, 2011 Library Journal Mover and Shaker, offer a keynote address on the future of providing materials and services entitled “Access Schmaccess.”

·     EXPERIENCE FOUR SESSIONS of informational presentations full of dynamic content featuring all aspects of librarianship. Sessions on digitization, leadership, assessment, children’s literature, collaboration, web-design, long term planning, and more.

·     NETWORK THANKS TO ample time devoted to networking and sharing ideas This is an opportunity unlike any other to collaborate, develop relationships, and help create a stronger future for libraries. Imagine this:

o   Minnesotans shaking hands with Wisconsinites!

o   Librarians from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan speaking to you! 

o   Academic librarians and public librarians exchanging pleasantries!

o   Archivists, Catalogers, and Reference Librarians conversing!

·     SHARE WITH COLLEAGUES because our Call for Posters has been extended!  Take a minute to sign up and share your research, organization, or future plans.

·     EAT DELUXE TACO BAR, an amazing amalgamation of beans, tortillas, tacos, spices, lettuce, proteins, and joy!

·     BE FRUGAL AND economical! all of this (and more) for the low, low price of 25 Dollars! A full conference experience for a webinar price! Penny Pinchers Rejoice!


So, what are you waiting for?  Register by phone by calling 715-468-2815, or online at via the WITC Classfinder.  Registration, due to fiduciary and organizational structure, requires personal information; all information is secured and used only by the state Wisconsin to better serve its community.

For more information, visit our site at https://sites.google.com/site/lakesuperiorlibrariessymposium/

Questions, comments, suggestions and condemnations should be directed to adam.brisk@witc.edu

The Lake Superior Libraries Symposium is marketed, staffed and supported by the collaborative efforts of librarians from University of Minnesota-Duluth, WITC, UW-Superior, Superior Public Library, the College of St. Scholastica, Superior Middle School, Northern Waters Library Service, and many others!

Wisconsin Contingent at National Library Legislative Day

Support Staff & Circulation Conference is May 23

Working Together - Blending, Merging, Transforming - is the theme for the May 23 one-day conference sponsored by the Support Staff and Circulation Services Section of WLA in Appleton at the DJ Bordini Business & Industry Center.

For just $45 for members ($60 for non-members), you'll get a full day of programming on current topics in library management - and some just for fun:

• The Tattooed Librarian (Keynote)
  Amelia Osterud is the Director of Information Services and Circulation Librarian at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin, as well as being the author of "The Tattooed Lady: A History." Join Osterud for a discussion about her research, the research process, and the long road to publishing a book that seeks to clear up the mystery and misinformation surrounding tattooed ladies in the historical and scholarly record.

• All Together Now: Library Advocacy, Front Line Service, and the Wisconsin Library Community
  Ron McCabe, WLA President, will describe how we can work together to demonstrate the vital importance of the services that libraries provide. 

Other topics:

• Implementing RFID Technology: From Tagging to Automated Materials Handling
• Understanding and Serving Patrons on the Autism Spectrum
• Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC) Access and Navigation
• ILS Transition From III Millennium to Koha
• ResCarta: Create, Collect and Display Local History
• Chair Yoga
• Overdrive and eReaders in a Public Library
• Telling the Library's Story

Iowa Library Association-ACRL Spring 2012 Conference Invitation

We received the following invitation for those of you interested in the Iowa Library Association - ACRL Spring Conference:

Registration for the ILA-ACRL Spring 2012 Conference is now open, and we wish to extend an invitation to the librarians in neighboring states. We will be meeting on May 25th in Decorah on the beautiful Luther College campus.

You can find the registration information, including a link to the online registration form, at http://www.iowaacrl.org/content/ . Be sure to check out the Registration info, schedule and other details link for a sneak peak of the concurrent sessions and information about accommodations in Decorah.

Members of other state library associations may sign up at the "Member" rate for the conference.

Dining and Tourism During WAAL 2012

The WAAL Conference, taking place next week at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, not only provides you with excellent professional programming, but a chance to unwind in luxurious accommodations near diverse local dining options and attractions.

For dining opportunities during the WAAL Conference in Lake Geneva try the following link:
http://www.lakegenevawi.com/c/Dine.aspx

Use the sidebar for a breakdown of dining by categories such as ethnic, fine dining, fast food, etc.

To explore activities, attractions, and shopping destinations in the Lake Geneva area visit
http://www.lakegenevawi.com.
--Charles Elftmann, WAAL Conference Co-chair