The CHILIS Spring Conference will be held on Thursday, March 17 at the Milford Town Hall. Registration forms and more information are available at www.chilisnh.org.
The state library now has two Every Child Ready to Read @ Your Library kits available for lending. This is an early literacy program developed by the Public Library Association and it is targeted to parents and caregivers of young children. The kits include various materials that can be used to do workshops about the importance of reading to children at different age groups. For more information about the program, visit the PLA website at www.pla.org/ala/pla/plaissues/earlylit/earlyliteracy.htm.
Kids, Books and the Arts 2005 library grant applications will go out to all public libraries in mid-March. Libraries can apply for grants to bring performers to their libraries for summer 2005. These musicians, puppeteers, and storytellers will be featured at the showcase at the CHILIS conference. All of them have prepared programs that relate to the summer reading 2005 theme of Camp Wannaread.
The program for the New Hampshire Libraries Conference on May 12 and May 13, 2005 is on the web at nhlibconf.org. Check out the programs you want to attend, print off the registration, and learn how to make hotel reservations.
The theme: A Great State of Libraries honors the work of all librarians. The two day conference begins on Thursday, May 12th at 9 am with the keynote speaker, Jessamyn West, an activist and progressive librarian. Jessamyn's weblog has been a mainstream awareness of censorship and privacy issues involving libraries. The luncheon speaker is the renowned Tim Sample, so be prepared to laugh yourself into good health. The evening dinner speaker is Willem Lange, the carpenter, teacher, story-teller and commentator you have heard on public radio. His jovial and insightful views of our New England life will end the day in serene bliss. Friday's luncheon speaker is Sy Montgomery, writer for children and adults on nature and eco-conscience will inspire and warm the heart.
This year the conference will be held at the Center of New Hampshire in Manchester. Next year there will not be a joint conference to allow librarians to attend the public library meeting in Boston. NHEMA is working on a school library media conference to be held at Plymouth State University. The following year, 2007, NHLA and NHEMA will again be coordinating a joint conference.
The 2004 NH Public Library Annual Report (NHPLAR) is officially open. The report is due no later than April 18, 2005. For the second year, the report is in the form of an internet survey. Please go online to www.nh.gov/nhsl/lds/public_library_stats.html for instructions and a link to the report website. Watch this same website for updated information. I f you have questions or trouble accessing the survey on the internet, please cal Sue Palmatier or Tom Ladd at (800) 462-1726 (NH only) or e-mail one of us at spalmatier@library.state.nh.us or tladd@library.state.nh.us.
NHSL Orientation is scheduled for 02 May. Registration for this free three-hour opportunity to learn about NHSL services to you and your library will be open soon on the website http://www.nh.gov/nhsl/libed/modules.html.
Spring Modular courses have been announced: "Cataloging Overview" in Effingham; "The Reference Interview" in Hanover; "Children and Youth Services Overview" in Franklin; "Programming for Children" in Hancock. Course details and registration form will be on the website very shortly: www.nh.gov/nhsl/training/modules.
"WebJunction New Hampshire" is coming by mid-year. The NHSL is pleased to announce that planning has begun with WebJunction (http://webjunction.org) or the New Hampshire affiliate. If you haven't checked out WebJunction, the national online library community, please do so. Registration is free.
Check out some other state affiliates (via the dropdown box in the upper right corner at WebJunction) for some examples of what we are working toward. Got ideas or suggestions for the NH version? Please contact Tom Ladd at NHSL.
