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...News You Can Use
 
Volume 3, Issue 8
September 2015
 
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Director's Note

This month we received word that we'd been selected to receive the Waukesha County Executive's Government Agency of the Year Award for 2015.  You can read more about the award here.   We are honored and humbled and know that it was the entire team (including our staff, trustees, and libraries) that made this possible.  A history of quality library system services provides a strong foundation which has allowed us to take on new challenges to ensure continued excellence.   A big new challenge for us is the migration of the Jefferson County libraries into CAFÉ as well as the Jefferson County libraries into our library system.  To begin the change we are in the process of changing our name to Bridges Library System.  We think the word "bridges" conveys connections and support, which is what we are all about!  
Stay tuned for more information from us as we work to ensure a smooth transition.  We appreciate your support as we move through the changes necessary to begin the next exciting chapter.
Connie Meyer

The Library System is Hiring!

We have an exciting employment opportunity for a librarian interested in the marketing and communications aspect of librarianship!  This is a full-time position at the Library System office in Waukesha.  Hours can include days, evenings and weekends but are generally weekdays.  Additional hours to attend meetings, workshops or to fill in for other staff may be required.   This position will be responsible for planning, writing, producing and managing content for marketing, branding, promotions, public relations, website, and internal and external communications for the library under the general direction of the Library System Director.
 
Minimum qualifications:
  1. Graduation from a recognized college or university with a Master's Degree in Library Science or Library and Information Science.
  2. Three (3) years of professional work experience as a librarian in the areas of reference, interlibrary loan, special needs, or a closely related area.
For complete position details and to apply, see the website: www.waukeshacounty.gov/employment . Please attach at least 2 but not more than 4 examples of your design work.  Accepting applications through September 18th, 2015 at 4:30pm.
 
Feel free to share this announcement with anyone you feel would be qualified for this position. 

Waukesha Public Library Launches New Website
 
By: John Klima, Waukesha Public Library

We felt that our old website had a lot of good information on it but that it was difficult to navigate. We decided to handle the redesign in-house for two main reasons, 1) we would have complete control over the site, and 2) all the vendor quotes we received for a new website were around $25,000. We selected WordPress which gave us the most options for customizing the site. Grant Lynch and John Klima handled much of the redesign planning, but we brought in as many people from the library staff, board, and Friends to help us along the way. Jim LaPaz did the bulk of moving content from the old site to the new one, Grant created the front page design as well as the site's general look, John put out any programming/WordPress fires that arose, and all of the department heads, particularly Kori Hall and Kerry Pinkner, gave direction for what needed to be on the website. We could not have accomplished this without the help of the entire team.

Check it out at www.waukeshapubliclibrary.org

Checkers
Pet Photo Contest a Success

The Delafield Public Library ran a Summer Pet Photo Contest ending on August 20. Staff member Melissa Rader said "Our participation level was astounding! 104 pets were entered and 392 votes were submitted." In addition, the library featured the voting through their online newsletter and saw a 15 percent click-through rate to their website, when it is usually around 1-6 percent. Plus, the staff thought the program was so much fun!  

Library Director Terry Zignego added that they plan to offer the contest again next year and maybe include a hot dog feast on National Dog Day, which is also in August.

If you would like to see more details on the 2015 Summer Pet Photo Contest, check out this archived web site post.  


Nominate your Favorite Librarian!

Who is a librarian that really makes a difference in their library and community?  We all know that one librarian that makes us stop and say "You Rock!"  So let everyone else know!

Nominations for the 2015 "I Love My Librarian Award" are open through September 28th.  To submit an application and to learn click here

Any questions can be directed to  Megan McFarlane, American Library Association,  mmcfarlane@ala.org .
Irvin L. Young Memorial Library

by:  Stacey Lunsford, CPLA

The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library was built in 1991 and we are in the process of planning a building expansion.  To maximize our space while we await our expansion, we provide laptops and wireless printing for our patrons.  This option doubled the number of public computers we were able to offer then when we had desktop PCs. 

We like to try new things and one of the services we have added is our Maker Space, which has analog-to-digital conversion equipment for videocassettes; audio cassettes and vinyl; slides, negatives, and photos.  We also support crafting with a CriCut electronic cutting machine, a Big Shot die-cut and embossing machine, an AccuQuilt fabric cutter, sewing machine, and a polymer clay drying oven.  We offer monthly programs highlighting projects that can be made with our equipment.  

We started a seed exchange library this year and, in addition to seeds we purchased from Seed Savers Exchange, our local Wild Ones organization has added native plant seeds to our collection.  Each month we have a program on some aspect of gardening, seed-saving, or native planting.  
We have completely digitized all newspapers dating from the beginnings of Whitewater in the 1850s to 2013.  Newspapers up until 2007 are currently available through our website and 2007-2013 will be available soon.   We have digitized our unique vertical file collection, including the ever popular file on the local "Spooks' Temple", the Morris Pratt Institute, which is also available through our website.  We became a Family Search Affiliate Library in 2013.  Genealogists can request microfilm from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, the largest depository of genealogical records in the world, and access it here for a nominal fee paid to the Family History Library.  We support four full-time and two part-time book clubs whose members range from homeschoolers to the City's Parks and Recreation department's seniors program to crime fiction aficionados.  We are also the beneficiaries of hundreds of community service hours courtesy of graduation requirements at the high school and the University.  We average about 200 volunteers and 1,850 hours per year.  Our latest addition is our youth educational services librarian's dog, Linus, who has been certified as a therapy dog and will be featured in Tails with Linus, a Saturday program beginning this month!

Butler Public Library
by: Gail Duerenberger

The Butler Library was established by a small, but dedicated group of women with 500 donated books and a small collection of furniture and equipment. The library was originally located in the front room of the Village Hall where the clerk had her office. It later moved to a 1,500 square foot location in the same building that had once been the maintenance garage.

Today, we have a 5,900 square foot library and are open 51 hours a week to serve the needs of the greater Butler community. We have 16 public computers with high speed internet and Microsoft Office. We also offer a variety of programs for infants all the way up to seniors.

* March 2008 - Groundbreaking for the new library
* May 2008 - Construction for the new library began
* December 2008 - Grand opening of the new Butler Public Library
* 2014- Butler Library Celebrates its 50th Anniversary!

The library has sponsors programs such as: cooking nights, a yearly Valentine's Day Party, a Beatles Night, and Canvas Painting.

Butler Celebrates its 50th Anniversary

Pewaukee Public Library Charging Station
Need a Charge?

The first charging station is up and ready for business at the Pewaukee Public Library. Public library charging stations for mobile devices were funded through a 2015 Library Services and Technology Act grant submitted by WCFLS staffer Mellanie Mercier.  Each member library in Waukesha County will soon host a charging station, with a custom slicker to reflect the look of the library.

The charging station can be used by any member of the public looking to charge their smartphone, tablet or other device. The rapid charging station is equipped with eight charging ports including: three lightning ports, one 30 pin port, three micro USB ports and one mini USB port. Charging stations with universal ports can come in handy for those who just need a charge or during a power outage. It also alleviates the need to move furniture around or have cords draped across walkways as people charge their devices.

Get charged @ Your Library! 

Google Communities for Libraries

Are you looking to give away or sell surplus materials to another library? Posting a job ad? Working in your library's ILL department? A school librarian? We have a great new way for you to connect with other librarians across the state: Google Communities for Libraries!
 
Follow the attached instructions for creating a Google+ account using your work email.

Join a Community by going to:

To get email announcements, turn on email notifications in one or all of the communities you join.
Hours Changes

The Oconomowoc Public Library board approved changing the library's weekday hours so they are the same year-round.

The weekday hours will be:
Monday-Thursday 9 am to 8 pm
Friday 9 am to 5 pm
(weekend hours are not affected by this change)

Gift Card Winners!

Last month WCFLS held a drawing for new newsletter subscriptions.  We gained about 60 new subscriptions with the drawing.  Thank you everyone who signed up and welcome to the WCFLS newsletter! 

Congratulations Drawing Winners!
Suzanne Blair
Paulette Brooks
David Brostrom
Susan Coenen
Amanda Jones
Natasha Heinlein
Diane Jaroch
Amanda Jones
Hope Kramer
Sue Moore
Erin Shepard
Chris Sturdevant
Emi Weiss

Youth Services Workshop
 
Library staff members have an opportunity to attend an all day workshop chock full of sessions that can help you find new ways to serve children, teens and those who require special services in your community.  The morning will concentrate on how to transform your library to be more welcoming and accessible.  Lunch will be provided and include information on what is happening at the state level, mini grant opportunities, and ideas for future programs.  The afternoon sessions will cover how your library can incorporate new media and programming ideas for teens using Manga and Anime.  For more information and to register click here
 
September 25, 9am - 4pm at Franklin Public Library
Presenters:  Renee Grassi, Tessa Michaelson Schmidt, Caitlin Shaffer, Jenny Wegener, Judy Jones, Patrick Lodge and Abby Bussen
 

Building Your Capacity...Sustaining Your Library:
Friends, Foundations and Fundraising

Libraries have never needed their Friends and foundations more than they do today! Library Strategies consultants from The Friends of the St. Paul Public Library will be here to talk about best practices, roles, and responsibilities. They'll also share stories of successful and not so successful organizations. Bring your questions as well. This is open to library trustees, Library Friends members, and library staffs. For more information and to register click here.

September 29, 9am-12pm at New Berlin Public Library
Presenters: Sue Hall and Stu Wilson, Friends of the St. Paul (MN) Public Library


Come learn about the Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library (WTBBL). An information session will be held on Friday, October 2nd from 10-11am at the Oconomowoc Public Library. The WTBBL is based in Milwaukee and serves people of all ages throughout Wisconsin who have a reading disability or visual or physical impairment
preventing them from reading standard-sized print or holding a book.

This includes:
Macular degeneration
Cataracts
Glaucoma
Parkinson's Disease
Alzheimer's Disease
Multiple Sclerosis

The Talking Book & Braille Library sends qualified individuals a free digital player and books or magazines on digital cartridges through the mail to their residence. WTBBL has over 100,000 books, 2400 audio-described movies, 70 magazines, and 300 newspapers. WTBBL is part of the National Library Service and the program is entirely free. 

This program is free and open to the public. No registration is required.
Six Steps for Social Media Success

How effective are your social media outlets? 

This  article, discusses the 6 steps for social media success. 

Listed are the 6 steps:
  1. Listen to the chatter
  2. Respond when it makes sense
  3. Friend your community
  4. Be visual
  5. Be speedy
  6. Consistency is a must

Fall 2015 Continuing Education Workshops


Registrations for all Fall workshops is now open. Click the links from the list below for program details and registration information:

 

Friday, September 25, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Youth Services Workshop

 

Tuesday, September 29, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Building Your Capacity-Sustaining Your Library: Friends, Foundations and Fundraising

 

Wednesday, October 14, 9:00 - 12:00 pm
Surviving Difficult Conversations

 

Thursday, October 29, Session 1 (9:00 am - 12:00 pm) or Session 2 (1:00 - 4:00 pm)
Book Repair with Kapco

 

Wednesday, December 16, Session 1 (9:00 am - 12:00 pm) or Session 2 (1:00 - 4:00 pm)
Counting Opinions: Preparing for the Library Annual Report
Carroll University's Center for Graduate Studies, Waukesha
 

All of these workshops are also listed on the Continuing Education Opportunities web page.  Be sure to check the page for additional opportunities.

 


Calendar
Mark Your Calendars

Waukesha & Jefferson Counties Library Trustees Dinner  Celebrating and Honoring our Public Library Trustees
Thursday, September 24, 2015
5:30 - 7:30 pm
Western Lakes Golf Club in Pewaukee
Advanced registration required. More info.
Guest speakers: Authors Ron Legro & Avi Lank, The Man Who Painted the Universe

Waukesha County Federated Library System
741 N. Grand Avenue #210
Waukesha, WI 53186

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