Extra, Extra! New Zine Titles Available!

As some of you may already know, the SLIS Library collects Zines, small, self published magazines about, by, or for librarians and libraries.

Currently the library  has a collection of over 25 zines. However, due to their somewhat lack of consistent release dates, zines can be difficult to follow. The SLIS Library has come up with a solution: from now on, you can walk through the Zine collection and any time you see the green call out, like the one in the picture below, you will know that this Zine has been in the library for less than thirty days. Stop by and check them out!

Do you know of any Zines by, about, or for librarians and libraries that you think the SLIS Library should collect? Let us know about it! E-mail us the title and/or how to find it at slislib@library.wisc.edu.

WLA Picks and Info

As many of you know, this week is the Wisconsin Library Association's Annual Conference in La Crosse. Lots of SLIS students, staff, and faculty are going, but if you're not one of them, it's still a good idea to get a taste of what's going on, who is speaking, and what will be discussed. Below are some of the SLIS Library's picks on speakers and programs, but there are TONS of wonderful and interesting topics we don't have space to mention! If you are interested in learning more, take a look at WLA's website here.

Developing a Concert Series at Your Library
Learn how to organize and implement a popular concert series in your library. This session includes recruiting musicians, performance contracts, scheduling, marketing, funding, sound systems, room requirements and much more.

Library Interiors: Maximum Impact for Minimum Input
At a time when swelling library use puts pressure on dwindling budgets, it's tempting to ignore the updates your library interior needs. But increasingly savvy customers expect more from their library experience. Fortunately, re-imagined library interiors don't have to be costly. With creativity and resourcefulness you can make a great impact even with small investments.

Photo of  Whangaparaoa Library Teen Area

 
Accessibility Best Practices for Instruction Librarians
*Featuring UW Librarians, including Anjali Bhasin!
As champions of information literacy and access, librarians often intend to provide universally accessible service, but don’t always have the  knowledge to do so. At UW-Madison, the Instructional Design Working Group developed accessibility best practices to help our librarians make learning content, whether delivered online or in-person, accessible to all students. We will talk about these best practices as well as how to handle accommodation requests, write curriculum and accessibility statements, and create accessible documents and tutorials.
 
Open Source on a Budget 
*Featuring SLIS's Dorothea Salo!
You might have heard all sorts of things about open source software. Perhaps you've heard how wonderful the open source community is, or maybe you've instead swapped horror stories of working with non-tech-supported programs.... Come learn how open source really can be a viable option for techies and non-techies alike!

At the Movies with Librarians: Books Coming out as Movies at a Theatre near You
The panel will be discussing popular books being made into upcoming movies in late 2012 and 2013. We will screen the trailers for these films and talk about how well (or how poorly) we think these books will translate to the screen. 

Image from firstshowing.net

  RDA Implementation: An Update and Overview
This session will be a general overview of RDA, and give an update on the implementation as done by the Library of Congress and its national partner libraries.

Creating Quality Library Programming for Boys
It can be difficult to dream up programs that work well for boys once they've left storytime. Join us for a discussion on creating programs boys from elementary school through high school will want to attend. We'll also discuss ways to make them feel welcome, how to fill your library with the stuff they want and how to take gender out of the planning process.

eReaders for the Common Good: Instituting an eReader and Other Device Lending Program @ Your Library
Journey with us as we take you through the jungle of trials and tribulations necessary to establish an eReader lending program and policy at your library.

From Madonna's Sex to 50 Shades of Grey: Collection Development Decisions
*Featuring SLIS's Jane Pearlmutter!
Join this program for a lively discussion about the phenomenal success of the "50 Shades" series.  Has something changed in the world and in libraries since Madonna's "Sex," or is it even possible to compare "Sex" to "50 Shades?"  We will hear different viewpoints on this particular book and the more general issues surrounding erotica in publishing and libraries today.

Image from USA Today

Using Technology to Make Local History Accessible to the Community
After gathering dust for decades in tucked-away file cabinets, historic photographs became community resources when uploaded to an online photo album. No longer trapped in the memories of village citizens, immigration stories came alive when videotaped and posted online. With a few technological tools and the library website, the presenters made their area's history accessible worldwide and increased community involvement.

SLIS in the news

SLIS Director Kristin Eschenfelder was recently featured in both The New York Times and the Sauk Prairie Eagle newspaper. She weighs in in the NYT's Room for Debate section, discussing the topic "Does the Law Support Inventors or Investors?" Read Kristin's arguments here. She is also quoted in the Eagle, discussing the role of libraries in small communities, saying "libraries have always been about more than books." Read the Eagle article here.

The Future of E-Books and Libraries

When you walk into a library to borrow a book, traditionally we think of a printed book. A solid material you take home after it is checked out. However, a growing number of library patrons now turn to electronic devices to enjoy their reading; thus, the question of e-book enters the equation. 

Earlier this year there have been several talks between the Big Six Publisher (Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin, Random House and Simon & Schuster) and libraries regarding the introduction of e-book lending. Overall, the Big Six has been reluctant to team up with public libraries due to their fear of library e-books undercutting other sales. Currently, libraries are paying high prices to obtain e-books' titles from the Big Six Publisher. HarperCollins has a 26-lend limit on its library e-books. Random House nearly triples its e-book prices in March and Hachette recently confirmed it would more than double its prices.

Although there have been many obstacles, things are moving slightly forward. In June, Penguin launched a one year pilot project with vendor 3M and the New York Public Library. Macmillan officials recently announced that the publisher is also working on a pilot program that would enable e-book lending for libraries. This development is monumental since libraries have been fighting for equal access to e-books citing that library patrons should have equal access to print and electronic books. Despite recently developments, the future of e-books and libraries remain uncertain. 

What do YOU think?
Readers what do you think about e-books and public libraries? Do publishers have the right to be concern about their sales? Do public library patrons have the right to access e-books? Do you think a six-month delay release for public library e-books is fair?  

For more articles on the future of e-books and public libraries: 
The Digital Shift: Macmillan Confirms Ebook Pilot for Libraries         Publishers Weekly: Macmillan Poised to Test Library E-book Model
The Wall Street Journal: Libraries Cut E-Book Deal With Penguin
paidContent: Hachette to Raise Ebook prices for libraries by 220%

E-Books in America (and at SLIS)

Nothing provides a quick dose of information quite like an infographic. Particularly a pretty infographic. We're big fans of the site Daily Infographic here at SLIS, and the perfect one came across the desk this morning:

Via dailyinfographic.com

There were little tidbits on borrowing vs. buying behavior for e-reader users:

Via dailyinfographic.com

And on overall reading habits for e-book users:

Via dailyinfographic.com

You can check out the whole thing here: http://dailyinfographic.com/e-books-in-america-infographic

Whatever your stance on the paper vs. e-reader debate (this article appeared in the Twin Cities' Star Tribune this weekend), chances are that many of your patrons will be using e-readers. Did you know that the SLIS Library has a bunch for SLIS students to try out? We have several Kindles (Fire, Keyboard, and Touch), a Nook Color and a Nook Simple Touch, and an iPad. Summer's a great time to play around with an e-reader (anyone else hiding a summer romance novel cover?) and get to know what the fuss is about.

SLIS Student Awards

Congratulations to this year's SLIS Student Awards winners!

Laura Farley - Valmai Fenster Award for Outstanding Promise of Exceptional Scholarly contribution to the Profession

This award was created in honor of Valmai Fenster, a former SLIS faculty member, to recognize exceptional scholarship of a SLIS student as evidenced in a scholarly paper.

Dawn Wing - Dianne McAfee Hopkins Diversity Award

This award was created in honor of Dianne McAfee Hopkins, the first African-American SLIS faculty member and committed leader in school library education, intellectual freedom, and diversity in the library profession.

Megan Schiebel - Penelope and Stephen Klein Scholarship Award

Penelope Klein earned an MA from SLIS in 1997. In thanks for her years at SLIS, she and her husband offer this scholarship to a SLIS student who is entering into the second year of study at SLIS, intends to have a career as a public librarian, and has a background in the humanities.

Jennifer Kirmer - Lawrence C. Zweizig Student Leadership Award 

This award, given in honor of late SLIS graduate Lawrence Zweizig, serves to recognize and nurture leadership in the first year master's students, thereby helping to sustain the School's commitment to graduating future leaders in the profession. 

Carissa Christner, Nicole Colburn, Kat McLarn, Angela Terrab, Jackie Zook - Award winners

Sara Cummins, Melissa Nicholas, Molly Khan - Honorable Mention

James Krikelas Award for Innovative Use of Information Technology

This award, in honor of Emeritus Professor James Krikelas, recognizes the work of SLIS students who have presented the innovative use of information technology through a SLIS course assignment.

Dawn Wing - Lawrence Jacobsen Innovations in Library Science Scholarship Award

This award was established by Larry Jacobsen to support a second year SLIS student who needs financial assistance in completing his or her second year, has a focus on academic and/or special libraries, and demonstrates skills as a potential difference make in librarianship.

Click here for full descriptions of each award.

Celebrate National Library Week!

National Library Week is an annual celebration sponsored by the American Library Association. Each April, we celebrate the country's libraries and librarians and promote the use and support of all kinds of libraries, from public and academic to school and special. Other NLW events include National Library Workers Day (4/10), National Bookmobile Day (4/11), and Support Teen Literature Day (4/12).

This year, National Library Week is April 8-14, and the theme is "You Belong @ Your Library." Here at SLIS, we're celebrating by holding a Silent Auction, and setting up our very own Create-A-Button station. We will have a button maker, paper, and even a chart of Dewey numbers, so you can show some love to your favorite subject. Stop by and celebrate with us!