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Show Me Libraries

Missouri State Library
Volume 1, Issue 2
Fall 2006

 

Inside this Issue

Welcome

Presence at MLA Conference Highlights Wolfner Anniversary, MOSL Services

Wolfner Friends Fund You Say it How?

Online Service Provides Easy Access to State News Clippings

Institute Offers Library Education, Awards Certificates

2005 Missouri Public Library Statistical HIghlights

Summer Reading Program Wrap-up

Reaching New Audiences During Summer Months

State Library's Early Literacy Initiative Grows

St. Louis Public Debuts Enchanted Exhibit

Missouri Joins Thousands in D.C. for National Book Festival

Library Opinion Survey Reveals Library Use, Public Perceptions

Town Hall Meetings Scheduled in Strategic Planning Process

Saint Joseph Libraries Receive Practical Spanish Training

Library Development Staff Reorganizes

St. Louis County Library Welcomes New Director

Missouri Library News

Libri Foundation Grants for Missouri libraries

Bookshelf Program Promotes American History Literature, Programming

Book List Builds Career Awareness for Students

Scholastic Study Shows Parents Impact Reading Habits

 

Welcome

Welcome to Show Me LIbraries, the new Missouri State Library quaterly publication highligting new, events and opportunities of interest to the Missouri library community. With this issue, Show Me Libraries replaces the bimonthly Newsline.

For those who have been working in MIssouri libraries a while, the title Show Me Libraries is a familiar one. The titile has been resurrected because it is more evocative of the content than Newsline, and it makes a stronger connection to MIssouri libraries. The change to a quaterly frequency will accomodate future expand content. Show Me Libraries is distribute as an electronic publiation. Print copies will be mailed only to those libraries or library trustees without email addresses.

The occasional weekly publication Newsline Extra will be renamed Show Me Express beginning with its next issue. Show Me Express will continue to be distributed exclusively via email. Current issues and subscription information for both publications are on the Missouri State Library Web site at www.sos.mo.gov/library/pubs.asp

 

Presence at MLA Conference Highlights Wolfner Anniversary, MOSL Services

By Brenda Sites, continuing education consultant

The exhibit booth at the 2006 Missouri Library Association Annual Conference and Trade Show boasted the State Library's numberous services and resources from summer reading programming to services for blind readers. State Library Staff served slices of cake to celebrate Wolfner LIbrary's 75th anniversary during the exhibitor reception. Throughout the conference, the booth remained an active place for Missouri library staff to visit about State LIbrary programs such as statewide projects, grants, the summer reading program and continuing education opportunities. Almost 600 people attended the conference held October 4-6 in Columbia.

Attendees were also introduced to Sate LIbrary services through various conferenc presentations. Carl Wingo, technology and digitization consultant and manger of the Virtually Missouri Program, presented "Virtually Missouri: Your Statewide Digitization Program" and discussed some exciting changes, including expanded outreach activities and new opportunities for Missouri cultural heritage institutions to "go digital." Brenda Sites, continuing education consultant, was on a panel of continuing education providers who presented "Plot a Course for Continuing Education: Statewide Training Resources for the Whole Crew." State Librarian Margaret Conroy gave a State Library report during the MLA business meeting. Nancee Dahms-Stinson, youth services consultant, was a panelist in "Making the Summer Reading Program Work in Your Community" and "Summer Reading LSTA Grants."

 

Wolfner Friends Fund You Say It How?

by Dr. Richard J. Smith, director of Wolfner Library

Wolfner Library is proud to announce the completion of a new online audio service called You Say it How? This new Web guide provides an audio version of hard-to-pronounce or confusing personal names of contemporary public figures and authors. You Say It How? is an outgrowth of a guide provided for audio book narrators called Say How? 

The Say How? guide is used by audio book narrators who read for the Library of Congress Talking Book Studios of the National Library Service (NLS). Diacritic marks aid in recording the hard to pronounce names. Say How? was created at the Library of Congress Talking Books for the Blind Recording Studio, where pronunciation of words and names borders on obsession. "We found that one area was conspicuously missing from all of our many dictionaries and pronunciation guides: names of lesser known and contemporary public figures," says creator Ray Hagen.

The guide is used specifically by producers of talking books and in general at talking book libraries throughout the country that have local recording booths producing audio recordings of text materials. One thing the online guide lacked, and which everyone thought would be a stellar enhancement, was an audio version. The Say How? pronunciation guide requires knowledge of diacritical markups for the book narrator to use the exact stress or accent of names. While professionals in commercial studios know how to interpret the diacritics, this is not necessarily true of volunteer narrators across the country who use the guide to record local material.  

After making the suggestion for an audio enhancement to the webmaster at NLS, Wolfner staff were directed to the creator of Say How? Ray Hagen agreed that it would be a fantastic enhancement and mentioned the audio addition was attempted earlier without fruition. NLS approved the project with the condition the name be changed due to NLS contracts with studios that needed to conform to Say How? standards. Hagen suggested You Say It How? as the new name. Financial support was secured through the Friends of Wolfner Library.

With over 400 books to his credit in the talking book program, Ray Hagen was the logical person to add audio to the over 9,000 hard-to-pronounce names. Producing an audio book requires a monitor to follow along with the narrator as the book is read to catch any mistakes in the narration, offer suggestions on the reading and supply technical support. Laura Giannarelli, an NLS narrator of more than 400 books and Hagen's long time reading partner, agreed to be the monitor for this project. The two showed their professionalism in reading the more than 9,000 names by spending 23 hours in the recording booth over three days - a feat only to be attempted by seasoned professionals. 

The You Say It How? Web site is now available at www.sos.mo.gov/wolfner/sayhow/. This is Wolfner's contribution to the national network of libraries serving the blind and could not have been possible without the support of the Friends of Wolfner Library. 

 

Online Service Provides Easy Access to State News Clippings

by Cindy Bassett, electronic services librarian

Keeping Up is a current awareness clipping service prepared by the Reference Services staff of the Missouri State Library. Since 1976, its purpose has been to provide Missouri state agencies and state personnel with current information about state agencies and issues as derived from articles published in a representative sample of Missouri newspapers. It is produced with the intent of providing a comprehensive, focused, timely, non-partisan daily compilation of news articles from a wide selection of Missouri newspapers. 

Keeping Up Online takes Keeping Up a step further by providing links to articles about Missouri state government in online Missouri newspapers. This advancement makes this current awareness service available to anyone who wishes to read it through access to the Internet. The Keeping Up Online Web site is updated each business day and can be viewed at www.sos.mo.gov/library/reference/KeepingUpOnline/.  

Institute Offers Library Education, Awards Certificates

by Brenda Sites, continuing education consultant

Almost 100 staff members from Missouri's libraries attended training in Columbia on August 8-11. The 2006 Library Skills Summer Institute was held at the Quality Inn in conjunction with the "How to Be an Effective Technical Trainer" workshop at MOREnet.

The Summer Institute featured one basic skills class and two advanced skills classes. The basic course provided a four-day overview of library services. The advanced course on library services for young adults focused on the roles the library plays in enhancing the lives of young adults and developing programs and services to serve them effectively. The instructor was Tricia Suellentrop, youth services manager for the Johnson County Library (KS). The advanced course on library administration and management was taught by Pat Wagner, trainer and consultant with Pattern Research, Denver, CO. This course focused on examining library structure and governance, the role of the library in the community, the administrator's responsibility to the board, community and staff, funding issues, library standards and legal issues.

Concurrently, a group of 19 library staff attended "How to Be an Effective Technical Trainer" at MOREnet. This training session was specifically geared toward those who conduct computer classes for either fellow library staff or the general public. Denise Tate-Kuhler, MOREnet trainer, led the class.

By completing courses at the Institute, participants earn credits toward an institute recognition program certificate. Participants completing five credits will receive a certificate of achievement. Participants completing all nine credits will receive a certificate of excellence.  

Institute participants who received certificates of achievement from the Missouri State Library in 2006 include:

2005 Missouri Public LIbrary Statistical Highlights

by Lindsay McCarroll, statistical research analyst

MISSOURI PUBLIC LIBRARIES
FY04
FYO5

Percent Change

Library Visits
22,355,300
24,888,254
+11%
Library Employees
2,979
2,976
-.001%
Circulation
41,345,139
45,327,917
+10%
Public Use Computer Terminals Available
3,207
3,885
+21%
Taken from the 2004 and 2005 Statistical Report

 

Summer Reading Program Wrap-up

by Nancee Dahms-Stinson, youth services consultant

Pet parades, “Reading to Rover,” visits from vets and other animal antics were some of the activities children experienced as they “pawsed” to read at their local library summer reading programs this year. Ninety-six percent of reporting libraries conducted summer reading programs for children, with almost 50 percent conducting separate summer programs for teens. Approximately 136,000 children and teens participated in “Paws, Claws, Scales and Tales” and “Creature Feature,” the statewide summer library programs. Many school libraries cooperated with their public libraries to ensure that children had access to books during the summer months. Summer school teachers frequently participated by allowing children to count books read during or for summer school toward their summer reading program credits. Summer school librarians and teachers brought students to the libraries for storytimes, craft activities and special programs. Of course, children who were not in summer school enjoyed summer reading programs at the library, but also in parks, at local Boys & Girls Clubs and at other venues.


Missouri libraries are already preparing for next summer’s reading program, when children and teens will learn about the mysteries and thrills of the library. In 2007, children from birth to age 12 can explore mysteries of literature, science, nature and how to uncover all of them at their library, with the theme “Get a Clue @ Your Library.” The art for the 2007 children’s program was created by Mark Teague, author and illustrator of Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School and many other award-winning titles. Artist Teague incorporated the loveable dog, Detective Ike LaRue, into the “Get a Clue @ Your Library” poster and other items developed by the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP).


Graphic artist Russell Walks created the film noir-type art for the 2007 “YNK@ Your Library” teen summer reading program. YNK is a text-message abbreviation used by many young adults and means “You Never Know.” Teens will investigate mysteries from the past, present and future in summer 2007.


Patti Sinclair, author of the “Get a Clue @ Your Library” planning manual, will present the children’s summer reading program workshop across Missouri February 19—23, 2007. The teen summer reading program workshops are tentatively planned for early March in five Missouri locations.


For more information about the statewide summer reading program, please contact the State Library at (800) 325-0131.

 

Reaching New Audiences During Summer Months

by Nancee Dahms-Stinson, youth services consultant

Summer reading programs serve as one of the most popular and effective ways for libraries to promote their services, reach youth and their families and initiate community partnerships. It is also the best opportunity for libraries to reach outside of their walls to connect with youth and families that don’t normally participate in the summer program, use the library or read during the summer months.


Fourteen public and two school libraries received a total of $100,000 in LSTA Summer Library Program grant funds for their projects. All of the libraries developed quality programs in cooperation with other community entities, including schools, Boys & Girls Clubs and parks, to reach children who would otherwise not be able to get to the library during the summer.


Here are some highlights from the LSTA 2006 Summer Library Program grant program:


The Bollinger County Library built on the success it had experienced in the summer of 2005, when it partnered with two schools to extend the public library summer reading program to summer school students. The library’s grant funding paid for four county school libraries to stay open during summer school. The summer reading program experienced a 321 percent increase in the number of children participating in the program, with a 230 percent increase in the number of titles read. Even more impressive is the fact that more than 42 students were registered for their first library cards.


The De Soto School District partnered with the De Soto Public Library to bring the summer library program to four schools in the system. More than 750 children and teens participated in the school’s first library summer program, with 47 of these students registering for public library cards. To increase participation and success, the school libraries surveyed students to plan and develop the book talks, workshops and other activities supporting the summer program. Surveys of students and parents indicate that the program increased summer reading for over 50 percent of the participants and improved reading skills for over 50 percent of the participants.


The Hamilton Public Library exists in a county without a county library system, so many children live in unserved areas. The library’s goal was to extend the summer reading program to children outside of the library’s service area. Grant funds were used to pay for travel costs, temporary library cards, staff and equipment, which allowed the library’s Mobile Summer Reading Program to travel to four cities in the county, with one visit per week for seven weeks. Children checked out books, listened to stories and book talks and participated in craft activities. Parents commented that they observed improvement in their children’s reading skills and found themselves spending more time reading aloud.


This is just a sample of innovative and effective ways public and school libraries worked to make sure children and teens had access to books and encouragement to read during the summer. A number of public and school libraries have applied for the 2007 Summer Library Program grant, designing ways to work with community partners to reach unserved audiences.

 

State Library's Early Literacy Initiative Grows

by Nancee Dahms-Stinson, youth services consultant

The State Library partnered with nine libraries to conduct Every Child Ready to Read @ your library® workshops in October and November. Barry-Lawrence Regional Library, Farmington Public Library, Macon Public Library and Ray County Library hosted the full-day workshops for the State Library. Daniel Boone Regional, Kansas City Public, Springfield-Greene County, St. Charles City-County and St. Louis Public Libraries coordinated the trainings for their staffs and other area library staff. The early literacy training prepares participants to conduct workshops for parents and caregivers. Parents who attend the Every Child Ready to Read workshops tend to share books with their children more frequently and incorporate information learned in the programs, helping them to be more effective “first teachers” with their children. The Every Child Ready to Read @ your library® workshops and support materials were developed and tested by the Public Library Association and Association for Library Service to Children, in cooperation with the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health.


All library staff who attend the fall workshops have the opportunity to apply for the LSTA Every Child Ready to Read grant. The start-up grants award library systems up to $3,500 to purchase supplies and resources so staff can provide parent and caregiver workshops.


The State Library has worked with the Department of Health and Senior Services Child Care Bureau to allow library staff who have completed the training to award training clock hours to providers who attend one or more of the ECRR workshops.  This is the first library training content that has received approval from the Child Care Bureau as eligible for training clock hours for child care providers.


The full-day ECRR trainings are the first in a series of activities to support the early literacy initiative. In fall 2007, the State Library will sponsor workshops to help library staff incorporate the ECRR skills into their baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. These “storytime applications” allow the libraries to focus on one or two early literacy skills that are shared with the parents and modeled during each storytime.


For more information about PLA’s and ALSC’s Every Child Ready to Read @ your library® early literacy program, visit the ECRR Web page at www.ala.org/ala/alsc/ECRR. For more information about the Missouri State Library’s Every Child Ready to Read LSTA grant, contact the State Library at (800) 325-0131.

 

St. Louis Public Debuts Enchanted Exhibit

by Nancee Dahms-Stinson, youth services consultant

Three four-year old girls wearing long satin gowns climb into a pumpkin-shaped coach. A young boy approaches the coach, but the girls warn him that he needs to be a prince to come aboard. Meanwhile, another four-year old boy climbs up a beanstalk, and then glides down toward the ground. A group of young boys enjoy hammering at one corner while a young girl tentatively plinks among the keys of a miniature piano. In a quiet corner, a father reads Thumbelina to his daughter.


These are just a few examples of the memorable moments from the “Once Upon a Time … Exploring the World of Fairy Tales” exhibit at the St. Louis Public Library’s Central Library. The library worked with the Magic House Museum in Kirkwood to develop the exhibit, which will stay at the library through December, then travel across the nation to visit other libraries.  The library and museum received a grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to research, develop and create the 2,000 square-foot exhibit.


Thousands of children and their families are expected to visit the fairy tale exhibit, which explores the history and universality of fairy tales in interactive ways for children ages 3 through 10.  The exhibit allows children to walk into scenes from seven classic fairy tales: Beauty and the Beast, Jack and the Beanstalk, Anansi and the Talking Melon, The Elves and the Shoemaker, Cinderella, Thumbelina, and Lon Po Po. Children and adults walk through an enormous arch to enter the exhibit and almost immediately see the large throne. Sitting on a throne inside the arch activates the music and a narrator. Each fairy tale exhibit is accompanied by costumes the children can don as they slide down Jack’s beanstalk, climb through Thumbelina’s mole hole, or build a pretend fire in Cinderella’s hearth. There is plenty to see, hear, touch and even smell at each exhibit.


To make space for the exhibit, the library removed all of the furniture and collections from the periodicals room, a magnificent room with a carved ceiling modeled after Michelangelo’s Laurentian Library in Florence, Italy. A carpet was installed, and the library pulled from its vast historical collection of fairy tales to fill the shelves that formerly held magazines and newspapers. A rubber mat that mimics a gravel road draws visitors from one fairy tale to the next.


While adults will enjoy all of the fun activities in the exhibit (and watching the children interact in each of the settings is a pleasure in and of itself!), they can visit the gallery on the second floor of the library to view the historic fairy tale illustrations displayed there. Seven illustrators are featured, including Arthur Rackham and Elizabeth Nesbitt.


The Library worked with United Way “Success by Six” to create a book to be given to each child who visits the exhibit. The book includes the text of each of the seven stories with original illustrations. With a federal LSTA Spotlight on Library Programs grant from the Missouri State Library, the library scheduled a family fairy tale festival for early November. Festival participants can hear storytellers and musicians, watch puppeteers and jugglers, and make their own crowns and magic wands.

 

Missouri Joins Thousands in D.C. for National Book Festival

by Marge Kudrna, adult services consultant

The Library of Congress estimates more than 100,000 people turned out for the 2006 National Book Festival, a daylong celebration of books and literacy in Washington, D.C. on September 30, 2006. Some of the nation’s favorite authors read and discussed their works, including Khaled Hosseini, Bryan Collier, Alexander McCall Smith, Richard Peck, George Pelecanos, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jim Cramer and Bob Woodward. Authors signed thousands of books for fans willing to spend hours waiting in line.


Missouri joined other state library organizations under the Pavilion of the States, where children could go from booth to booth collecting stickers or stamps for a map listing books from all 50 states. Missouri chose I, Dred Scott, by Shelia Moses in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Dred Scott decision, and spent the day encouraging participants to read it and great books by Missouri authors. Missouri’s booth featured a book display, bookmarks, brochures and magnets all promoting Missouri’s literacy efforts and literary heritage.


Missouri Center for the Book board member Gabe Shapiro and Marge Kudrna, adult services consultant and coordinator of the Missouri Center for the Book, represented Missouri at the festival. Cybercasts of author readings and other events from the festival are available at www.loc.gov/bookfest/.

 

Library Opinion Survey Reveals Library Use, Public Perceptions

by Diana Very, library consultant/LSTA grant coordinator

Public opinion of Missouri’s library services remains high, as reported in a survey conducted by the Center for Advanced Social Research at the University of Missouri-Columbia. The survey conducted over the summer replicates a survey conducted in 1998 by the Center. The telephone survey of 1,205 people was constructed to gather data on public perceptions of libraries, use of library services, opinions of library services and reasons for using the library.


Comparing the two sets of responses allows us to chart changes in perceptions over time. Dr. Ken Fleming, director of the Center, compiled the comparison and presented the results to the Secretary’s Council on Library Development on September 22. He summarized findings of the survey based on 1,205 interviews completed as of September 2006. Key findings include:

A detailed survey report will be available this winter. The State Library is required to evaluate the impact of programs supported by federal Library Services and Technology Act funds, as described in the Missouri Five-Year State Plan 2003—2008. The results of the Center’s community survey about library services will be one tool used to assess the impact of those activities. The data will also be used in the development of the next LSTA plan for 2008-2012.

 

Town Hall Meetings Scheduled in Strategic Planning Process

by Diana Very, library consultant/LSTA grant coordinator

Library staff, trustees and library supporters are invited to participate in a series of town hall meetings to help provide direction for State Library programs and services.


Between 10 and 12 town hall meetings will be scheduled throughout the state to find out the services and resources library staff and patrons recommend. The meetings will be organized by staff from Missouri Training Institute (MTI), a part of the business college at the University of Missouri–Columbia. MTI will facilitate the meeting with discussion questions about identified focus areas and allow for input from all participants. State Library staff will be in attendance to listen to the discussion, provide any background information and answer questions.


Using the ideas from the meetings, MTI will prioritize the suggestions and report back to the communities as well as the State Library all of the compiled information. They will create reports for each location and a summary report for the entire project.


This information will be used to develop a long-range plan for Missouri library services. Part of the plan will describe goals and objectives for the next five-year plan for Missouri’s Library Services and Technology Act program, which must be submitted to the Institute of Museum and Library Services in July, 2007.


This is a great opportunity to make changes in the way we do business. The staff at the State Library is hoping to receive direction from the local areas on how they can be best served by the State Library and to receive productive, feasible suggestions for the next five-year LSTA plan. Announcements of the time and locations of the meetings will be sent out in Show Me Express, posted on the State Library Web site and distributed through other means. The meetings will be held in November, December, January and February, depending on schedules and weather conditions. They will be held during normal business hours and will last approximately two hours. Please make arrangements to join in these discussions and provide us with your creative ideas and suggestions.

 

St. Joseph Libraries Receive Practical Spanish Training

by Marge Kudrna, adult services consultant

Rolling Hills Consolidated Library District and St. Joseph Public Library recently entered into a cooperative pilot agreement with the State Library to offer staff development in Spanish language skills in the St. Joseph area. The libraries used the program developed by Elizabeth Almann of Learning Light Educational Materials and Service called Spanish that Works™. The library districts were able to address cultural diversity and the need to improve customer service to the Spanish-speaking patrons of their community. A community bilingual presenter taught the course for 17 staff members. The training was conducted weekly during August and September in eight two-hour sessions. The library systems offered two sessions, meeting at one facility in each library district.  One session met in the afternoon and one met in the evening to address staff scheduling needs. The participants spoke very positively of the program and the experience, emphasizing that the class work was immediately applicable due to the resources included in the accompanying notebook, pronunciation practice in class and CD support, and the library focus of the training. Even in this short time the staff members report positive communication opportunities. The libraries plan refresher sessions each month and to repeat the classes for new students and those wanting a refresher next summer.


Spanish that Works™ offers an innovative and successful curriculum in basic communication in Spanish. The original Spanish that Works course was written specifically for librarians and library staff. Spanish that Works teaches library staff to speak Spanish in the library setting. The course is ideal for beginners or for staff who want to become more confident when speaking in Spanish. The interactive program includes group practice and dialogue role-play. Participants learn how to do practical things with the language, such as how to ask for a library card, guide patrons to materials, or determine if a situation requires a translator. The course is designed to be completed in as little as 16 hours, or about two hours per week for eight weeks.


Over 60 libraries in 28 different states using Spanish that Works™ have found it to be beneficial in many ways. Staff feels empowered to be able to better help Spanish speaking patrons feel more welcome in the library and more easily use the library’s services.  
The St. Joseph area pilot project was the second program conducted by the State Library. Barry-Lawrence Regional Library District offered the program to its staff in March and April. For more information about Spanish that Works™, visit the Learning Light Web site at www.thelearninglight.com/STWLibrary.html or contact Marge Kudrna at 800-325-0131, ext. 17 or marge.kudrna@sos.mo.gov.

 

Library Development Staff Reorganizes

The Library Development Division has welcomed several new faces to the consultant and support staff teams in recent weeks. Some of the duties of existing staff have been realigned to better serve customers. All but two of the positions on the Development team have been filled, and the names of staff and their primary duties are outlined below for your convenience.


Barbara Reading, Library Development Division Director—Assists state librarian, directs consulting team


Marge Kudrna, Adult Services Consultant—Missouri Center for the Book liaison, LIFT liaison, adult literacy and ESL services, adult and senior programming


Lindsay McCarroll, Statistical Research Analyst—Public library statistics, Missouri Census Data Center coordinator, MOLLi database manager, research projects


Debbie Musselman, Technology Consultant—REAL Coordinator, videoconferencing, electronic library services consulting, technology plan certification


Brenda Sites, Continuing Education Consultant—Library Skills Institute coordinator, leads statewide Continuing Education Committee, administers Show Me Steps grants and scholarships, and is temporarily managing publications.


Diana Very, Library Consultant, LSTA Grants Officer—LSTA program, including grants and program monitoring


Carl Wingo, Technology and Digitization Services Consultant—Retrospective conversion and automation grants, statewide projects Show Me the World and Virtually Missouri.


Vacant, Youth Services Consultant—Statewide projects serving children and teens


Vacant, Library Administration Consultant—Public library and trustee consulting services, Trustee workshops, State Aid and Equalization program, A&E grants and publications


Erin Morgan, Supervisor, Technical Support Team


Julie Dudenhoeffer, Technical Support


Nikki St. Clair, Technical Support


All consultants have the responsibility to develop continuing education and training opportunities in their program areas, as well as oversight of related grants. The technical team provides project support, answers phones, processes purchase orders and generally keeps the office running smoothly.

 

St. Louis County Library Welcomes New Director

Charles L. Pace assumed the role of library director of the St. Louis County Library on October 16. Pace, a graduate of the University of North Texas, brings a wealth of experience from his previous library positions, most notably as director of the Fargo Public Library in North Dakota, branch manager in the Chicago and Houston Public Library systems and reference librarian in the Dallas and Brooklyn Public Library systems.


Pace believes the St. Louis County Library has a “good core group of people and is a system with great potential.” He looks forward to raising the profile of the library in the greater St. Louis area and beyond, especially in the area of technology. Look for the St. Louis County Library to be offering Wi-Fi access in all of its branches as well as moving in the direction of Radio Frequency Identification in the very near future.

 

Missouri Library News

Staff Changes

Tom Leimkuehler joined the State Library staff as reference librarian on November 1. In addition to reference service, he will serve as site coordinator to the Arthur cluster and as Web content coordinator. Tom worked in different types of libraries during his college years and became a traveling software trainer for a library software company after graduation. Tom has a bachelor’s degree in German and a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of Missouri.


Lindsay McCarroll joined the State Library staff as statistical research analyst on September 18. She is responsible for managing the state library’s Annual Statistical Report and the Missouri Census Data Center. Since beginning her position at the State Library, Lindsay has been to Washington D.C. for training by the U.S. Census Bureau and will attend training in December from the Federal-State Cooperative System for Public Library Data. Lindsay has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Culver-Stockton College and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Columbia College.


After 10 years, Nancee Dahms-Stinson will leave her position as youth services consultant at the State Library. She has accepted the position of youth services coordinator for Springfield–Greene County Library. She will fill the spot of Vera Florea, who is retiring after 20 years with SGCL.


Kathy Schlump has been selected as director of library services at East Central College in Union, where she began work as a library technician in 1996. After receiving her degree in 1998, Kathy was hired as technical services librarian and promoted to assistant librarian in 2001. She replaces Jennie Dodillet, who moved to Texas. Lisa Farrell has been hired as librarian to replace Kathy. Lisa also began her library career as a library technician at ECC in 1997. She subsequently worked at St. Charles Community College for five years, while pursuing her degree, before returning to ECC in June 2006.


Linda Washam has been named head librarian of the Odessa branch of Trails Regional Library. She replaces Fran Rushing, who retired in August.


Linda Hall Library of Science, Engineering & Technology announced the appointment of two professional staff in September. Eric E. Ward has been named marketing coordinator/reference librarian and Robert A. Smith has been appointed assistant head of systems.

 

Anniversaries

Albany Carnegie Public Library celebrated Centennial Rededication Day on September 30 in conjunction with Albany’s Homecoming and All-School Reunion. Formal ceremonies honored current and previous board members and the library was rededicated to the Albany community. The Albany Carnegie Public Library is celebrating its centennial year, which began with a reception last March to commemorate the day the doors of the library first opened.


Christian County Library celebrated its 50th anniversary on September 16. The occasion was marked with a party at the library, complete with a 1950s school yard of games, exhibits and tours of the facility.

 

New Locations

The St. Louis Public Library held a Grand Opening Celebration for its “Central Express” on September 12. This is the library’s 17th city location. Located on the main level of the Old Post Office building at 815 Olive Street, Central Express is now serving the City of St. Louis. Central Express has been carefully designed to meet the needs of those who live, work and play in the heart of downtown. Because of its relatively close proximity to Central Library, Central Express is not intended to be a “full service” branch. As its name suggests, speed and convenience are the main goals at Central Express. A self-service check out machine will help more than 88,000 downtown workers quickly check out materials on their way to work, on their lunch breaks or after a busy day.


Gentry County Library recently installed a resident library at Pine View Manor skilled nursing facility in Stanberry. Library staff installed shelves donated by the library and organized approximately 500 books.

 

Libri Foundation Grants for Missouri libraries

Eleven Missouri libraries received grant funds from the Libri Foundation to purchase children’s books this year. The Libri Foundation helps rural libraries acquire new hardcover children’s books they could otherwise not afford to buy.


To encourage and reward local support, the foundation matches any amount of money raised by a library’s local sponsors on a 2-to-1 ratio. Librarians select books from a list provided by the foundation, containing over 700 fiction and nonfiction titles targeted for children ages 12 and under.


The Foundation offers grants three times a year. The application deadlines are: (postmarked by) January 15, April 15 and August 15. Awards are announced January 31, April 30 and August 31. Visit the Libri Foundation Web site, www.librifoundation.org, for application information.


2006 Missouri recipients include Barton County Public Library in Golden City (Hylton Library), Bloomfield Public Library, Bollinger County Library in Marble Hill, Carter County Public Library District in Van Buren, Chadwick R-1 School Library, Fisk Community Library, Montgomery City Public Library, Schuyler County Library District in Lancaster, Steele Public Library, Sullivan Public Library and Wellsville Public Library.

 

Bookshelf Program Promotes American History Literature, Programming

As part of its We the People program, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is collaborating with the American Library Association (ALA) to present the We the People Bookshelf, a program that encourages young people to explore themes in American history, culture and ideas by providing the library with classic books. School (K-12) and public libraries are invited to apply for 15 thematically related books that embody the theme of the “Pursuit of Happiness.” In addition, libraries will receive four of these books in Spanish translation, a bonus CD with traditional music featured in the Little House series of Laura Ingalls Wilder, and supplementary materials for programming, including bookplates, bookmarks and posters. The We the People Bookshelf will be awarded to 2,000 libraries. In 2006, almost 50 libraries in Missouri received a We the People Bookshelf on the theme of “Becoming American.”


In return for receiving a Bookshelf, libraries are required to organize programs that introduce the books and the “Pursuit of Happiness” theme to the library’s students, young patrons or to intergenerational audiences. Programs should take place between May 1, 2007, and April 30, 2008. The application and guidelines are available at www.ala.org/wethepeople or www.humanities.gov. Applications are being accepted online through January 17, 2007.

 

Book List Builds Career Awareness for Students

A new project is available to libraries across the state to partner with local schools and foster career exploration.  “RACE Into Reading - Reading About Career Experiences” is a school/community service project conducted by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education with participating high school Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSO).


Now in its second year, the project features high school student volunteers visiting second and third grade students in classrooms and libraries to incorporate readings and activities which promote career exploration and awareness.  Although the program does not directly teach reading skills to students, it is hoped that by having secondary students interact in a positive way with elementary students, both the high school and elementary students will be encouraged to continue reading for fun and for information.


In conjunction with the “RACE Into Reading Project”, a special career book display could be a great idea for youngsters visiting your library.  February 2007 is Career and Technical Education Month.  The “RACE Into Reading Project” has compiled a list of suggested books, including ISBN numbers and grade levels.  It is available online at www.dese.mo.gov/divcareered/RACE_index.htm. Please contact the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education at (573) 751-3500 or sandy.murray@dese.mo.gov for information or if you would like to find out which local CTSO chapter might help you with the display or coordinate in the activity.

 

Scholastic Study Shows Parents Impact Reading Habits

A new study shows that kids’ reading drops off after age eight and parents can have a direct impact on motivating kids to read. The time kids spend reading for fun declines sharply after age eight and continues to drop off through the teen years, according to a new national study by Yankelovich, a leader in consumer trends tracking, and Scholastic, the global children’s publishing and media company. While 40 percent of kids between the ages of five and eight years old are high frequency readers (reading for fun every day), only 29 percent of kids ages 9-11 years old are high frequency readers and the percentage continues to decline through age 17. The Kids and Family Reading Report™, a national survey of children ages 5-17 and their parents, also found that parents can have a direct impact on their kids’ reading attitudes and behaviors, especially by reading more frequently themselves and by helping kids find books they like. For more information, visit www.scholastic.com/aboutscholastic/news/readingreport.htm.

 

Show Me Libraries

Fall 2006
Vol. 1, No. 1

Show Me Libraries is published quarterly by the Library Development Division of the Missouri State Library, PO Box 387, Jefferson City, MO 65102; telephone 800-325-0131 in Missouri or 573-751-2680; fax 573-751-3612.

Contents of Show Me Libraries may be reprinted with reference given to the publication and its date of issue.

The Missouri State Library is a division of the Secretary of State's Office.

Robin Carnahan

Secretary of State

Brenda Sites

Editor

Krista Myer

Director of Publications

Julie Stegeman

Graphic Designer




The former newsletter of the State Library, Newsline, is no longer published.  For archived copies, visit the Newsline Online Archives.


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