Posted by: ilabestpractices on: February 10, 2009
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Posted by: ilabestpractices on: December 22, 2008
With our new website, we wanted to be able to take advantage of features that would make the site useful to our community – RSS feeds for users to subscribe to that list the new books recently cataloged, blogs for our library gaming groups, and forums for virtual book clubs. We did not want to code this all by hand. We needed a Content Management System (CMS) that did the hard work for us and allowed us to focus on producing and managing the content.
What CMS to choose? Following our research, we chose Drupal (www.drupal.org) as our CMS. We developed an internal committee of a representative from each department to migrate the relevant information from the old site to the new. It took just two months to go from installing the software to launching the new website. Now we have a site that is current, uses new technologies and is easy to maintain. Submitted by Tim Jarzemsky, Director & Head of Computer Services, Bloomingdale Public Library
Posted by: ilabestpractices on: December 22, 2008
Because we are a small (ish) library, we do not have very many internet stations. The Board decided to restrict them to city resident card-holders only. However, the staff recognized that many of the visitors who come through are also stopping in on their way to shop or dine. Rather than give a negative impression of our city, we established an Internet Express station. For 20 minutes anyone can quickly check their email. It has proven to be very popular (we average over 200 visits per month). Plus we get positive feedback from library visitors who are very appreciative. Out of town businessmen and college students are our best customers. Submitted by Deborah Owen, Fairview Heights Public Library
Posted by: ilabestpractices on: December 22, 2008
The Family Reading Night program sponsored by the Illinois State Library is really intended for public libraries. Our community college does not, properly speaking, have any patrons who are children. However, our student and staff patrons have families. So about five years ago we began to participate in the Family Reading Night program with the intention of giving a boost to family literacy in the community.
We began small, with just a story time presented by a professional storyteller. Soon we came up with the idea of involving our Children’s Literature class, since the students in there are mostly intending to be teachers or child-care professionals. This program is now incorporated into the Children’s Literature syllabus, with the students planning for and presenting a different program in conjunction with our storytelling. We have expanded to holding a program in the spring as well as in the fall when Family Reading Night occurs.
Although it is not ordinarily part of the mission of a community college library to put on children’s programs, we feel that fostering the literacy skills of our current and future students is very much within our mission. Submitted by Jan Zuke, Southwestern Illinois College, Sam Wolf Granite City Campus, Granite City, IL
Posted by: ilabestpractices on: December 22, 2008
The Glenwood-Lynwood Public Library District partnered with the Homewood
Library and Starbucks to create and new book discussion group called “Coffee
and Chick Lit.” We took the popularity of Chick Lit and Starbucks and put
them together. The group meets once monthly at a local Starbucks from
7:00-8:00. Starbucks offers their location. Group members purchase their
own drinks, but each month Starbucks provides a little prize for the group, usually something off the discount rack. Books are available for pick up
at either library; we also check books out at the Starbucks on the night the
group meets. We also collect their books to return to the library.
Submitted by Melissa Gardner, Glenwood-Lynwood Public Library District
Posted by: ilabestpractices on: December 22, 2008
The Hayner Public Library District in Alton IL has implemented a program titled “Bow wow Pow wow.” On the second Saturday of every month, handlers bring certified therapy dogs to the Hayner Youth Library. Library staff sets out an attractive collection of books for varying ages and reading skill levels and the children are invited to come “read to the dogs.” They pick out books (or can bring their own) and sit with a dog and read to it. Some children who are not reading yet just play with the different dogs or a parent will read to the child and dog together.
This has been an incredibly fun and rewarding project for all involved- the kids, parents, handlers and staff! We also are immensely grateful to the handlers who generously volunteer their time this month and have been instrumental in making this program a success. Submitted by Bernadette Duvernoy, Public Relations Coordinator
Posted by: ilabestpractices on: December 22, 2008
The displays are no longer dull at the Bloomingdale Public Library since the Adult Services department developed a new approach to displays. The department created a more organized system that assigns display duty to the Adult Services staff on a rotational basis. One of reference librarians is in charge of assigning other staff members to a particular display area on a rotational basis. The librarian produces a chart that covers the next few months and delegates a certain display location area to each staff member. Staff then marks the display’s topic on the schedule so there is no overlap.
In addition to the displays created by staff, community groups and residents are invited to use the display cases to showcase their collections. Submitted by Tim Jarzemsky, Director & Karen Luster, Adult Services Assistant Department Head
Posted by: ilabestpractices on: December 22, 2008
The Itasca Community Library offers travel information from all 50 states and 75 countries to its patrons. This information includes official travel guides, maps and brochures and is contained in heavy-duty hanging pouches. Patrons can check out the packets to do research for their trip or they can take the packet with them on their trip for easy reference. Patrons are encouraged to bring back brochures from their trips for consideration for future travel packs.
Patrons can consult the official travel guide and find out where to stay, where to eat, where to shop and what not to miss. They can pull out the official visitor’s map from the state or country they are in and plan the best route to take. Many travel packs have information sheets that include history, geography, population, location, climate, and interesting facts about the area. Submitted by Jeffrey Paszkiet, Itasca Community Library
Posted by: ilabestpractices on: December 22, 2008
The “I Am An American” program is a two-hour session that features immigrants who came to the United States and made this country their home. Immigrants from different countries are asked to participate in a panel discussion. Panelists tell their stories of making the decision to immigrate to the United States and share details of their journey. They speak of the challenges of being an immigrant and how libraries can help. This model is perfect for bridging the gaps and laying a foundation of understanding based on shared values. It is a great way to discover the richness of our communities.
Submitted by Donna Schaal, Consultant, Lincoln Trail Libraries System
