April/May 2002

Out and About

§§  Frances Drone-Silvers and Mary Manley attended the "Virtual Reference Services ... What, Why, and How" videoconference at Lincoln Trail Libraries System.  The teleconference explored how libraries are implementing virtual reference as a way of helping users.
§§  Ray Bial was guest speaker at the Battle of the Books Awards Ceremony at Niles Public Library.  He also spoke at a conference sponsored by the Indiana Historical Society and one hosted by the School of Teaching and Learning at Ohio State University.  Additionally, Ray visited with classes at Prairie School in Urbana where the children are studying local history and lectured in a journalism class at the University of Illinois.
§§  Nancy Bode attended "Adding ILL Functionality to FirstSearch" workshop at Lincoln Trail Libraries System.  This feature of the FirstSearch databases allows patron-initiated interlibrary loan requests.  (For more information, see "New at the Library.")
§§  Rena Moore, Carol Gilbert, Gulya Fehr, Frances Drone-Silvers, and Louis Kehinde visited Danville Area Community College Library on Professional Development Day.  The DACC Library manages very efficiently with a small staff.  Parkland Library staff learned how they deal with students' word processing questions, tips for handling our upcoming renovation project, and ways to utilize staff effectively.
§§  Anna Maria Watkin and Raeann Dossett attended a workshop at Lincoln Trail Libraries System on the Illinois Crime Victim's Compensation Act.  The Secretary of State's office, which administers the program that provides financial assistance to crime victims, is encouraging libraries around the state to serve as community resources to victims of violence.  Secretary of State Jesse White was the event's final speaker.  [photo]  More information about assistance for victims of violence may be found at http://www.library.sos.state.il.us/departments/
court_of_claims/crime_victims.html

New at the Library

     Do you use FirstSearch?  Would you like to request articles that aren't full text with the click of a button?
     Now you can!  When you find a book or article not owned by Parkland Library, click on the blue symbol "ILL" for interlibrary loan.  A form will open asking for information needed to complete the transaction.  Fill in the form and click "submit."  This will send a request directly to the Library's interlibrary loan staff, and we will notify you when the item arrives.
     Please note that it usually takes about 2 weeks for materials to arrive.  There's no charge for this service.  At present, FirstSearch is the only one of our databases with this online interlibrary loan option.

Looking Ahead

§§  Pardon our dust!  Very soon, the Library will be in the throes of remodeling.  Look for a new library classroom with 25 computer workstations, new service desks, new carpet, and the rearrangement of some library materials. We'll report our progress in upcoming newsletters.
§§  May is Get Caught Reading Month.

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