REPORT TO LIBRARY BOARDS

From: Vandella Brown, Diversity Program Manager

Illinois State Library

I submit this report in by absence in observance of the February 21, 2005, Presidents Day and Black History Month engagements.

General Report from the Illinois State Library:

• Mike Ragen is the acting ISL Director during the search for the vacant position. Mike was the Chief Deputy Director of ISL
• Budget. The ISL budget is expected to be flat funding for grants in 2006. Increases are expected only in the area of payroll and retirement costs and general personnel costs. No staff hiring is expected for next yearís budget.
• Annual Reports from Library Systems: July 11-22, 2005 is scheduled for annual reports from the regional library systems. The annual report will take place in person with the director and board president in attendance. Comments from last yearís reviews have been sent to the system directors.
• NEW SYNERGISTS

Congratulations to the 30 librarians selected to participate in the 2005 Synergy Library Leadership Initiative sponsored by the State Library and the Illinois Library Association. Synergy is the statewide library community's proactive movement to recruit and nurture future Illinois library leaders. This year's seminars will be held April 5-7 at Starved Rock Lodge and Conference Center, Utica; August 9-11, Pere Marquette Lodge, Grafton; and November 15-17, Hickory Ridge Marriott Conference Hotel, Lisle.

• Per Capita Grants were processed February 7 and checks should follow within the next 6 to 8 weeks. The grants for $14 millions are provided at $1.29 per capita. School Per Capita have not been processed due to some technological difficulties.

• Illinois Diversity Program workshop, Empowering Library Staff to Meet the Technology Needs of Spanish Speakers will be held March 10 at Lewis and Clark Library System and March 8 at Metropolitan Library System. Vandella Brown, Diversity Program Director, Tammy Dobonye, Beardstown Public Library, Elizabeth Crane, Round Lake Area Library, and Hector Marino, Des Plaines Public Library will present 10 workshops throughout the state. Contact Sharon Layne 217-557-0136 to register.

• The Illinois Diversity Program is partnering with Lincoln Library, UIS Brookens Library, and Lincoln Land Community College Library to host over 12 programs dealing with the African Diaspora for Black History Month. Over a 200 people have attended the program thus far.

• The Illinois Diversity Program is working with the Springfield Jewish Federation and the National Hadassah Office to host the Poster Exhibit 350 Years of Jewish Life in America, March 21-April 6, 2005 and April 4^, 2005, 5:30 p.m. the program, Jewish Women in American Jewish History, guest speaker will be Ms. Ruth Cole, National Chair of Hadassah Magazine, published by Hadassah, Womenís Zionist Organization of America.

• Grants: LSTA Site Visits will be conducted over the next few months for all libraries that received the 2005 LSTA grants. Visits may be performed in person or by telephone depending on the amount of the grant. Karen Egan will replace the retiring Amy Kellerstrass as LSTA Program Consultant.

… FY2005 Penny Severnsí Summer Family Literacy Grant program from the Illinois State Library Literacy Office. Email JoAnne Hughes at jhughes@ilsos.net and request a grant application attachment. The applications must be received in the Springfield office by 4:00 pm on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 for consideration.

• LIBRARYU WORKSHOPS AT SYSTEMS

LibraryU Project Coordinator Lisa Barnhart will be offering free ‡ day workshops entitled "Web-Based Training and Staff Development: Making the Most out of LibraryU". Contact your regional library system to signup for the workshops, which are scheduled for:

March 3 - Dupage Library System

March 8 - Lewis and Clark Library System

March 16 - North Suburban Library System

March 31 - Metropolitan Library System (Burr Ridge)

April 8 - Shawnee Library System

April 22 - Rolling Prairie Library System

May 4 - Chicago Public Library

April26- Prairie Area Library System

Meetings, Scholarships and Conferences:

• Illinois State Library Book Fair March 5, 2005 at the State Library (Handout)
• ILA Conference October 11-15, 2005 Peoria, IL
• ISL Training Grant for The Master of Library and Information Science due May 1, 2005
• Chicago Chapter of Black Caucus of ALA Charlemae Hill Rollins Scholarship due May 1, 2005
• SPLMI 12th Annual Deadline March 24, 2005 for applications

Reminders:

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