System Spotlight
By Staff
Scott County Library Has a Cow, Man!
Millie and Jenn from Scott County Library did a zoom with Farmer Stacy about the calf they adopted for StoryTime!
Their calf was named Diamond and this is her picture, here! What a beautiful calf she is. ✨🐮✨
ALICE Training
On February 19th, following the board meeting at Liberal Memorial Library, SWKLS hosted ALICE training. Our guest speaker was Captain Jeff Wade of the Liberal Police Department. He gave us tips and strategies to use in the event of an active shooter situation. Thank you to Capt. Wade and everyone who was able to attend this training and thanks again to Liberal Memorial Library for providing the space!
Future Dates & Training Opportunities (All Times in CST)
May 2nd, 2024 – 10 AM – EBSCO Learning Express Library Overview Webinar/Zoom Link
May 8-10, 2024 – MPLA Conference in Salt Lake City, UT
May 14th – 2 PM – 3 PM – Twosday Takeaway: Cosplay and Anime: Creative Programming for Teens with Sara Wilson/Registration Coming Soon
May 15th – 2 PM – 3 PM – Addressing Body Shape and Size Stigma in Libraries: Getting Started Webinar/Register Here
May 27th – Humanities Kansas Culture Preservation Grant Applications Due/Click Here for More Info & to Apply
Consulting
By Sara Wilson
APPLE Kick-Off
The seven regional systems and a selection of their new directors traveled to Junction City, KS for the Applied Public Library Education program (APPLE) kick-off held on April 16th and 17th at Rock Springs Ranch. SWKLS students attending were Rebecca Grizzell from Dodge City Public Library and Kelli Humiston from Fowler Public Library.
Happy campers! Kelli and Rebecca pose with Richard and Sara in the wind and sunshine for a quick group photo. 🏕️
SWKLS Retreat Coming in September
This is a reminder that we have our retreat coming up on September 26th and 27th in Syracuse, KS. We have a speaker lined up and it’s going to be a fun, relaxing experience! Come get to know your area colleagues, share stories, laugh, learn, and get away from it all.
Image provided through pixabay.com contributor kaboompics
New Policy Template on the System’s Wiki
The Template Policy link has a new file available for use. This time I have worked on typing in a template Personnel Manual. It is a rather lengthy document. It is available for the membership to look over and see if they find anything they would like to add to their Personnel Manuals. It is in a Word file as all the templates are so you can download and use them as a base and take out or add to the templates for what best fits your library’s needs.
You can look over the template Personnel Manual along with the other templates through this link.
Cataloging, Collection Development, and ILL
By Sara Wilson
Collection Development Inspiration
Adult Fiction
Children’s & YA Fiction
Cat Express Users: Cat Express Will Be Gone Next Tuesday
This is a reminder that OCLC’s Connexion browser, which houses Cat Express, will be decommissioned next Tuesday, April 30th. If your library uses Cat Express, please be advised that the link in your VERSO to Cat Express will no longer be a valid link. All Cat Express accounts have been transitioned to WorldShare Record Manager and each library has their own URL and passcode to be able to catalog using the new interface. If you do not know your URL and/or passcode, you will need to get in touch with OCLC.
There have been 4 WorldShare Record Manager pop-up training events and I’ve done 3 one-on-ones with more scheduled. If you need a one-on-one training over WorldShare Record Manager, I am more than happy to come to your location and train you and/or your cataloging staff. Please just email me or call the office and let’s set up a time for a visit.
Masters of the Universe Day is on April 28th! What better time to tell your patrons about Comics Plus, provided by the State Library of Kansas? Did you know that you can check out Masters of the Universe comics on Comics Plus? All you need is a State Library of Kansas eCard! Kids and He-Man (or Skeletor) fans of all ages will be delighted to find their favorite characters’ adventures free in digital format.
By the power of Grayskull, may you have a Happy Masters of the Universe Day!
Technology
by Christopher Dressler
F.C.C. Votes to Restore Net Neutrality Rules
“In a 3-to-2 vote, the five-member commission revived the rules that declare broadband a utility-like service regulated like phones and water.”
What this mean? Net neutrality refers to the principle that internet service providers should enable access to all content and applications regardless of the source, and without favoring or blocking particular products or websites. In other words, your internet access should not be limited for what you choose to use it for such as streaming movies or applying for unemployment. The rules prohibit Internet service providers from blocking and throttling lawful content and ban paid prioritization. Cable and telecom companies plan to fight the rules in court, but they lost a similar battle when judges upheld the FCC’s ability to regulate ISPs as common carriers under Title II of the Communications Act.