Blog Posts by Stephanie Bailey-White

Nez Perce Country is a great book for Idaho libraries

Stephanie Bailey-White — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:23:44 -0700

I purchased a copy of Nez Perce Country, by Alvin M. Josephy Jr. after reading a great review of the book in Multicultural Review. I thought it would be a good Scoop incentive book and ended up taking it home and reading it. The book is geared toward adults, rather than high school students so it might not make a perfect Scoop prize, but I do think it would be a great addition to any Idaho public library collection and was surprised when a quick World Cat search showed only 20 Idaho libraries owned the title.

I had the chance to visit many of the sites referred to in the book this past summer and fall on the way to PNLA taking the scenic route through Kooskia, Pierce, and visiting some of the mission sites. A later trip to the Salmon-area provided more chances to stop and read historical markers and see the sites in person, but the book provided the bigger picture and the context you can’t get from signs and from what I remember from my fourth-grade Idaho history lessons.

Pictures, maps, and good writing kept the pages turning. In addition to the great review in Multicultural Review the book also had positive reviews in Booklist and Library Journal. At only $14.95 a copy, I’ll be picking up a few for the Idaho history buffs in my family for Christmas gifts. The paperback book was published by University of Nebraska Press. (2007. 196 pp. 978-0-8032-7623-9).

Too cool – get to vote and pick up books at the same place

Stephanie Bailey-White — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:13:14 -0700

I’m a big fan of Ada Community’s Express Service. Today I got to vote at my regular polling place and then pick up my books in the same trip. Too cool! I use the service all the time. One of the drop off / pick up return stations is within walking distance of my home, so I can walk the dogs, burn some calories, and pick up my books in the same trip. It’s like a multi-tasking Trifecta and I love it. When my daughter goes with me we always do the angel choir “awwwwe” sound when it opens after we key in the last six digits of my library card. It really does feel like magic when the little door opens and my books are waiting for me.

Here’s a little more information about the service from Ada’s web site:
The off-site pick up / return stations are are strategically located between existing library facilities and are accessible 24/7. An Ada Community Library card or card from another LYNX! consortium library is necessary for this service. Place a reserve online for desired library materials (or call the library for assistance) and we'll deliver to a secure locker at your preferred Ada Express. You will be notified by phone or email when the items are ready for pick up. Items may be picked up any time/any day but are pre-checked out so they should be picked up at your earliest convenience. Items will be removed from locker and returned to owning library if not picked up after three days at the Lake Hazel site and five days at the Star Hope Lutheran site.

I hope the high voter turnout creates a lot of new business. I discovered the lockers there the last time we voted at that location and I’d love to see more people tapping into this convenient and fun service.

Get free books for your Idaho Family Reading Week event!

Stephanie Bailey-White — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:58:54 -0600

The Read to Me program has paperback copies of How I Became a Pirate, by Melinda Long for Idaho public libraries who are planning events during Idaho Family Reading Week, November 16 – 22, 2008. Just complete the form by October 29th and we’ll send you books to give to families. Quantities are limited (probably to about 90 per library depending on how many responses we get) and will be sent by November 5th. If you don’t get enough to give to every family who attends your event, we suggest doing a door prize drawing throughout the event until they are gone. It’s also a good way to capture names and information about who attended your event from the door prize registration slips. Complete the short form at http://libraries.idaho.gov/content/free-books-idaho-family-reading-week to get your books.

School libraries: We want to hear from you too and have 40 hardback copies of 1001 Pirate Things to Spot, by Rob Lloyd Jones, illustrated by Teri Gower and Michelle Lawrence to give to the first 40 school libraries that complete the brief form at http://libraries.idaho.gov/content/free-hardcover-book-elementary-school... .

SPLAT 101 registration tops 100

Stephanie Bailey-White — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:57:31 -0600

Join other members of the Idaho library community as we learn together. So far 118 people have registered to participate in SPLAT 101! SPLAT, the Special Projects Library Action Team, has put together a fun self-paced online course that introduces six technology-based resources that many of you have been meaning to explore, but haven’t carved out the time to do so yet. Now’s your chance! Register for this free online course and explore these topics with others from around the state:

• Week 1 – Blogs
• Week 2 – RSS
• Week 3 – IM
• Week 4 – Online Applications
• Week 5 – Wikis
• Week 6 – Tagging

SPLAT team members are also available to help if you get stuck during the six-week time frame. Complete all six topics and the final evaluation and you’ll receive a nifty certificate of completion signed by State Librarian Ann Joslin, suitable for framing! Your name will also be entered for a prize drawing! Each Monday, you’ll get an e-mail notice of the week’s topic and information for how to participate. The first online session starts the week of October 6, 2008. You can complete the assignments any time during the week and we’ve also allowed a little catch up time at the end. Feel free to preview the courses at http://splat.lili.org/splat101/intro but be sure to register at Register today at www.eventbrite.com/event/175824897to get the weekly e-mail reminders and be eligible for the prize drawing at the end.

Governor presenting checks to libraries in Hayden, Lewiston

Stephanie Bailey-White — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:32:50 -0600

Governor Otter is presenting checks to library directors in Hayden and Lewiston this week. They were among 30 libraries awarded Read to Me mini-grants of $5,000 from a state appropriation.

Registration now open for August 1 Read to Me training

Stephanie Bailey-White — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:56:23 -0600

Read to Me is sponsoring a training session August 1, 2008 for library staff who will be participating in the Read to Me First Book program and the new Every Child Ready to Read Project. If your library is interested in participating in these two Read to Me outreach opportunities, please register online by July 11 at www.eventbrite.com/event/108719182. We do have limited seating. The Read to Me program is able to reimburse you for your travel expenses and we’ve reserved a block of rooms at the hotel. We can accommodate up to two or three people from your library. Participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements (see travel handout for details) and will be reimbursed at the state rate.

Saroj Ghoting, a nationally-known presenter and early literacy expert, will be the primary presenter for the Every Child Ready to Read portion of the day. We'll be spending time practicing with the scripts developed for these workshops. Check out the agenda here.

Here are a few more notes about the training: You are welcome to attend the First Book orientation at 9 a.m. even if you are not participating in that program. If you’ve already participated in First Books and won’t be taking part in the 2008-2009 program, you may plan to arrive at the workshop at 10 a.m.

First Book participants: You are welcome to attend the Every Child Ready to Read portion of workshop even if you are not participating in that program. Just let us know so we can count you in our lunch order.

In order to qualify for the free materials, we’re asking participating libraries to host two six week workshops. We’d also like an estimate of how many families you think you’ll reach at your first workshop series, along with the approximate date you plan to start. Please e-mail that information to stephanie.bailey-white@libraries.idaho.gov .

We can’t announce recipients of the First Book awards for 2008-2009 or the Read to Me mini-grant recipients until after June 16th. We will hold spots open for all First Book and grant recipients. Libraries are welcome to participate in the Every Child Ready to Read Program even if they aren’t doing a grant program.

If you have questions about the training, please contact Stephanie or Peggy (1-800-458-3271 or 334-2150 in the Boise calling area).