System Spotlight

By Staff

Springing into Crafts @ Haskell Township Library

“Here’s a photo dump of all the activities we’ve had the last few weeks. I’m sure you can tell but I’m gonna say it anyway.. we’ve got some fun, crafty and very creative people in our community. Thanks for hanging out with us!” – From Facebook

National School Librarian Day

Today – April 4th – is National School Librarian Day! This holiday was celebrated at Comanche Middle School in Dodge City, along with Paraeducator Appreciation Day! We celebrate and appreciate all school librarians and paras – congratulations and thank you for all that you do!!

Source: Comanche Middle School’s Facebook page

A Comment for Joan Weaver from Cara Vanderree

Thank you to Cara for this letter on Joan Weaver and what Joan has done for the public library community.

Joan Weaver: Kinsley Public Library

Joan Weaver, of the Kinsley Public Library, is the best librarian I know. The Kansas Library Association and Auto Graphics agreed and selected her library as the Best Small Public Library in Kansas in 2013. The Library Journal awarded them three stars. Weaver has advocated for her community’s uncertain future by documenting their past and showing that the Edwards Countians have survived flood, fire, and famine. They will survive the future as well.

By raising the standards of small community librarianship impossibly high, she has made other Kansas librarians step up and work harder to serve their communities better. Weaver promotes literacy by using her experiences as an English teacher and debate coach (She holds a 1968 B.S. in Secondary Ed. from Eastern Michigan University) to craft educational opportunities through classes and programming for all ages. Her Summer Reading programs are legendary.

Working with High Plains Public Radio and former Kansas Poet Laureate Wyatt Townley to promote literacy through radio book clubs and poetry sessions has spread her influence statewide. She combs the local newspaper archives to collect the community’s stories and her work with Humanities Kansas to collect the living history of Edwards County, Kansas, by conducting oral histories and making them accessible to all, has led to multiple interviews. I know the oral history interviews intimately, as I was her transcriptionist for many of them and their voices still ring in my ears.

The K.P.L. website shows community awareness efforts (Weaver, J., 2022). But even Weaver can’t slow the decline of a small, rural community in Kansas. The Kinsley population has shrunk 25% in the last 30 years, but Weaver has rigorously advocated for her people by bringing them to statewide notice through television, print, and the internet.

The television coverage came due to her knowledge of local history. After Queen Elizabeth’s death, a rural Kansas tie to English royalty was shared about a Kinsley man who married to Wallis Warfield Simpson during World War II. Simpson later went on to marry King Edward VIII. “If it hadn’t been for the divorces, maybe Queen Elizabeth wouldn’t have been queen,” Weaver said. (Jirgens, 2022).

Through Weaver’s leadership, the K.P.L. receives numerous newspaper mentions for creative programming, but in 2012, the American Library Association press release focused on EBSCO Excellence in Small and/or Rural Public Library Service Award for the online “One-Stop-Shop showcasing the history of its home with resources gathered from historians, architects, computer programmers, newspaper editors, the librarian and volunteers.” (Sargent, 2013).

I first met Weaver 16 years ago at Southwest Kansas Library System monthly meetings. She showed that taxing counties paid an unfair portion of system support compared to contracting counties (who pay for line-item services rather than by levy.) After ten years, the question of financial support fairness is being considered by state leadership. I know this personally, because she advocated for financial support equality at every, single, meeting. Once a month. For years. She doesn’t allow you to forget inequality of any sort.

Weaver serves a community of 1,330 people and her circulation in 2021 was 10,848, according to the 2021 Kansas Public Library Statistics (2022). That’s almost a circulation of eight books per capita. Her circulation compares well to the Dodge City Library (the largest library nearby). Their circulation is three books per capita. The K.P.L.’s constant presence physically, in print, and in the media has led to circulation success as well!

In conclusion, Weaver, who is now 77 years young, sums up her dedication to librarianship best. “As a librarian, I recognize the need to preserve the stories, but what really inspires me is to share them with a greater community and then witness moments of recognition,

consideration, revelation, and appreciation. When people come together at the library to learn and to exchange ideas, it inspires me to go on and create more opportunities.” (Humanities Kansas, Meet Joan Weaver).

Sargent, A. (2013, June 6). PLA award winners represent excellence in public libraries. News and Press Center. https://www.ala.org/news/press releases/2012/02/pla-award-winners-represent-excellence-public-libraries/

Humanities Kansas. (n.d.). Meet Joan Weaver. Meet Joan Weaver – Kansas Story – Humanities Kansas. https://www.humanitieskansas.org/get involved/kansas-stories/people/meet-joan-weaver

Jirgens, A. (2022, September 8, at 10:27 PM CDT). Kansas town holds unique connection to royal family.

https://www.kwch.com/2022/09/09/kansas-town-holds-unique-connection-royal- family/

State Library of Kansas. (2022). 2021 KS Public Library Statistics. 2021 KS Public Library Statistics | State Library of Kansas – Official Website. https://www.kslc.org/1502/2021-KS-Public-Library-Statistics

Weaver, J. (2018, February 23). Legacy, language, and culture. HPPR https://www.hppr.org/hppr-arts-culture-history/2018-02-23/legacy-language culture

Weaver, J. (2022, November 21). Activity archive page. Kinsley Public Library. https://kinsleylibrary.info/activity-archive-page/

Consulting

By Sara Wilson

April 8th – Twosday Takeaway: SCCC Inclusive Spring Programming | Webinar/Registration Link
April 8th – 2 PM – AI is More Than GPT – New Horizons in Artificial Intelligence in Libraries | Webinar/Registration Link
April 9th – 12 PM to 1 PM – Info2Go! Visual Literacy in Graphic Novels and Comics | Webinar/Registration Link
On Demand – Copyright at Work | Webinar/Access Recorded Session
April 11th at 10 AM CST – Hybrid Board Meeting at Dodge City Public Library | Hybrid Event/Registration Link
April 11th at 1 PM CST – Tandy’s Come-and-Go Retirement Reception | In-Person Event/RSVP Link

If you cannot attend the retirement celebration for Tandy, but would like to send a gift or card, you may send those to the office and we will be sure that Tandy receives them.

Save the Date: Family Resource Training

Join us May 7th on Zoom as Shyanne Hall, from 1-800-CHILDREN shares a wonderful, statewide resource for families that you can tell your patrons about!

We do not have registration set up for this event, yet. Please save the date so you can plan to attend!

More changes for the Southwest Kansas Library System – Richard

The System is still in flux with many directors retiring over the last couple of years. That is still happening during this year. We have had 3 directors retire, some preparing to retire, and new directors coming into the library world. Just in the last few months alone we have had Ronna Schmidt (Greeley County Library), Joan Weaver (Kinsley Public Library), Amy Halling (Hasnton City Library), Tandy Ritchhart (SWKLS), and Tammy Dickey (Kearny County Library). Now we add to that list with Marge Tillitson (Ransom Public Library).

We miss and will miss all of these wonderful individuals that gave so willing to the library community. Thank you to each and everyone of them and we wish them much joy and wellness as they move into this new chapter in their life.

Heads Up: The Date Has Changed!

For April’s Twosday Takeaway, we have guest speaker SCCC Library Director Casandra Norin visiting with us about the inclusive programming that her library has going on this spring! Join us April 22nd at 2 PM. Register here!

National Library Week Online Event

In case you missed it, Eric Norris of Manhattan sent this opportunity out on the listserv:

“Just sharing an upcoming Facebook Live event on Wednesday, April 9, at 7pm in celebration of National Library Week:

’Join PBS Books for a special celebration of National Library Week (April 6-12), as we explore the enduring impact of public libraries in our communities.

’In anticipation of the Independent Lens documentary “Free for All: Inside the Public Library” (premiering April 29 on PBS and the PBS App), host Heather-Marie Montilla sits down with Cindy Hohl, President of the American Library Association, to discuss the important role of libraries in American society.

’From the vital work of librarians to the challenges of Freedom To Read and budget cuts, this conversation delves into how libraries remain cornerstones of democracy, knowledge, and inclusion.’

https://www.facebook.com/share/15z1vviQmV

I can think of no better time to get involved, and involvement can start by listening to conversations about public librarianship.”

And speaking of National Library Week, the ALA has tons of free digital resources for your use. Please take advantage as you celebrate the value of libraries next week with your patrons!

Cataloging, Collection Development, and ILL

By Miguel Coca

Collection Development Inspiration

Adult Fiction

Children’s & YA Fiction

#Trendy Librarian

Join us for an exciting event exploring the latest trends in libraries and programming. Hear from our keynote speaker from SWK9 Pawsibilities (dogs might be making an appearance), who will discuss the growing role of animals in library programming and their impact on community engagement.

Lunch will be provided – Quiznos

Non-Members: $75 Registration Fee

SWKLS Members: No fee

Please contact Tonia if you have any dietary restrictions.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/trendy-librarian-tickets-1311954213369?aff=oddtdtcreator

From the SWKLS Pro Collection

Changes in public libraries, the communities they serve, children’s lives, and educational research all demonstrate that traditional summer reading programs need to be reimagined. Working groups of librarians, in partnership with the California Library Association and the California State Library, have done just that, creating and implementing outcomes- and outreach-based summer reading programs that speak directly to diverse and changing communities. Drawing on case studies from several different libraries, this book shows how other libraries can transform their own summer programs. Offering a vision of change in action, the authors

begin with a historical overview of summer programming in public libraries and a review of the research and conditions that have prompted recent changes in summer programs;
discuss the principles, strategies, and evaluation framework that California librarians have created to transform their institutions;
review a statewide campaign, Summer Matters, that is working to provide equitable summer learning opportunities for all children in California; and
take an in-depth look at Lunch at the Library, a public library summer meal project, which brings underserved families to the library while providing learning opportunities for children, volunteer opportunities for teens, and resources for adults.

Public library staff and educators will feel inspired and empowered by the positive examples put forth in this book.

Versed in VERSO on Tuesday, April 8th, 2025

The next Versed in VERSO is Tuesday, April 8^th at 11:00 AM ET / 8:00 AM PT. The webinar is scheduled for 1 hour.

Registration is open: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2899398314674141274
Topics:
- Quarterly Product Updates with Cheryl Slinkard
There is space on the registration form to ask a question, and we’ll answer as many as possible during the webinar.

The recording from March’s Versed in VERSO is posted here: Staff Dashboard > Support > VERSO.

Regards,

Julie

Julie Cavender, MLIS

VERSO Product Manager | Lakewood, CO

(909) 569-1527 | jjc@auto-graphics.com

Verso Reports update

On the March 20th Verso Release they removed the Old Reports and replaced it with Reports (new). I have attached the Verso Release Notes below

Removal of Old Reports from Statistics Menu in Staff Dashboard
To streamline the user experience and improve access to essential features, we removed certain reports from the
Statistics module in the Staff Dashboard. These reports have been replaced with improved versions in the Statistics
module under Reports (new).

Key Changes:

The removed reports are no longer available in the Staff Dashboard > Statistics module.
Equivalent reports can be accessed in the Statistics module under Reports (new).
Users requiring similar data can generate reports using the updated options.

Technology

by Christopher Dressler

As I write this on April 1st, I reflect that it is usually spent playing pranks on your friends and is commonly known as April Fool’s Day. So, this week I want to spend some time on the serious side and write a bit about AI. I know, you have heard a lot about in the last few years, but did you know that many people can’t tell the difference between a real photo and an AI generated photo? So, let’s test your skills. Click here to take the quiz.

So how did you do? How many times did you take the quiz? After the 2nd time taking the quiz, my results are here. What are some key take-a-ways from this quiz? Even someone that knows how to spot an AI image can still be tricked. But as you know, AI can do much more.

AI has advanced many fold in the last few years and can now clone the subtle intonation changes and exact accent in a human voice. This technology is widely available and can be purchased and built by anyone, good guys and bad guys alike. This tip sheet explains the importance of a family safe word or phrase.

Think of it like a password. This word (or phrase) is used if you are not familiar with whom you are speaking with on your phone or chat. It works when you receive a phone from a family member asking for money (in some cases), usually an urgent situation such as “I need bail money” or “I need money for a ER visit.” The more anxiety or urgency the scammers scenario creates, the less likely you are to making a clear decision about the scenario and become a victim of their scam. That’s where the family safe word or phrase comes in, (which is discussed with your family ahead of time) use the word or phrase to validate the user on the other end of your phone call or chat. In some cases you may need a safe word for co-workers, the elderly, or caregivers, or friends as well.

On another topic. If you use an AI tool, it is important to know exactly what is happening with your data. Your prompt history and you answers in some cases are property of the company for which you use the AI tool. It’s important not to prompt sensitive information. This not only protects you but also protects your patrons and customers. I have attached that tip sheet below as well.

Click here for a tip sheet from the National Cybersecurity Alliance for Safe Words and Data Privacy.

I hope this article was helpful to you this week. If you have any questions in regard to creating an AI Usage Policy, please call us here at the office.