PrairieViews: PALS News Digest

Items posted from June 26, 2011 through June 30, 2011.

Browse only the titles of items in this issue.

Merger News

Thank you for your support and encouragement of PALS over the years. All of us at PALS are grateful for the opportunity to serve you, and we cherish all the great memories. On this last day of operations for PALS, you may be wondering: What happens tomorrow, when RAILS launches?

Throughout the past twelve months, as representatives from ALS, DLS, MLS, NSLS and PALS have worked on the merger, maintaining member services has been a top priority. So on RAILS’ first day of operations tomorrow, we will strive to provide the same level of service to which you are accustomed.

On Friday, deliveries will continue with the same schedules, the same routes, the same drivers, the same sorters, and even the same trucks with the same logos and the same license plates. Services will also continue for PrairieCat and the other local library system automation programs associated with RAILS. Please continue to contact our courteous, professional staff at the same phone numbers and email addresses as before.

In the future, as we introduce changes such as new email addresses and phone numbers for RAILS team members, we will keep you informed so you can keep in touch. Please stand by for more, and be sure to bookmark the new RAILS Web site (http://www.railslibraries.info/) for updates.

PALS System News

The videorecording of the final meeting (June 29) of the Merger Transition Board is available through the merger website:

http://www.systemsmerger.info/docs/993

The first meeting of the Reaching Across Illinois Library System is scheduled for July 1, at 10:00 a.m. The primarly location for the meeting will be the RAILS Burr Ridge Building (Metropolitan Library System), with videoconference connections with several other locations and live online streaming video.

For details, including the meeting agenda and other documents, see:

http://www.systemsmerger.info/meeting/988

Member News

Rockford Public Library volunteer group set to open East Branch shop
http://bit.ly/jaLuYr

The Gallery Cafe exhibits works by photographer (column, Freeport)
http://bit.ly/kyY6uS

Marengo library to review details of architect proposal
http://bit.ly/kFtyUp

What's to love about local libraries? (column, Freeport)
http://bit.ly/jTu9ZM

Continuous Learning

July and August Continuing Education Courses

University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Library and Information Studies Continuing Education Services
http://www.slis.wisc.edu/continueed.htm

In Madison: Fundamentals of Cataloging
July 11-15
http://www.slis.wisc.edu/SummerCat.htm

Online: Creating Dynamic Pathfinders
July 11-August 5
http://www.slis.wisc.edu/pathfinders.htm

Online: Promoting Yourself in the Library Job Market
July 25-August 21
http://www.slis.wisc.edu/LibJob.htm

Online: Create a Vibrant Facebook Page for Your Library
Offered twice: August 1-12 or August 15-26
http://www.slis.wisc.edu/Facebook.htm

More Online ...
Online skills courses (http://www.slis.wisc.edu/continueed-ed2go.htm) offer a variety of topics in six week sessions.
Spanish for the Library (http://www.slis.wisc.edu/continueed-spanforlib.htm) begins the first of each month.

Questions? Contact Meredith Lowe (mclowe [at] wisc [dot] edu, 608-890-0364) or Anna Palmer (ahpalmer [at] wisc [dot] edu, 608-263-4452)

Grant News

The FY2012 Public Library Per Capita and Equalization Aid Grant application is now available. Read a memorandum about the grant from State Library Director Anne Craig

http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/lda177.pdf

and then download the application from

http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/lda179.pdf.