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System Spotlight

By Staff

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Join and support Sara on March 18

If you can register and support Sara and the Library Staff and Board of the Haskell Township Library. Spotlight your library in this way and share it with your community, so they know what is happening at their local library. Also if Dan gets in touch with you to do this, through KLA, be willing to share. If he hasn’t or doesn’t get in touch with you contact him so he knows you want to do this. It’s a great way to promote your library. Congrats Sara and have fun with the interview.

“Thank you to Sara Koehn, Haskell Township Library Director, for agreeing to be this month’s guest!  Please join us Tuesday, March 18 at 1:30 PM for our next installment of the library interview series. As usual, we’ll hear from our guest about everything that makes the community and library special. I hope you’ll join us! But if you can’t make it, you can still register using the link below, and I’ll send out a recording after we wrap up.”

Registration: https://kslib.zoom.us/meeting/register/kUefic3tRai9sZvIpqqMpQ

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Consulting

By Sara Wilson

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• March 2nd – 6th – Read Across America Week
• March 2nd – Dr. Seuss’ Birthday
• March 4th at 2 PM CST – Explore Vooks| Webinar/Zoom Link
• March 4th at 3 PM CST – Embracing Neurodiversity: Cultivating an Inclusive Workplace for Neurodivergent Staff | Webinar/Register Here
• March 7th at 10 AM CST – CSLP Summer Library Program Workshop| In-Person Event/Register Here
• March 7th at 1 PM CST – iRead Summer Library Program Workshop | In-Person Event/Register Here
• March 11th at 2 PM CST – Twosday Takeaway: Manga Collection Development | Webinar/Register Here
• March 12th at 1 PM CST – Advancing Title II ADA Compliance Through Inclusive Engagement and Collaboration | Webinar/Register Here

Image provided by pixabay.com contributor loannis Borroers

Joan Weaver’s Retirement – Richard

Last week I was informed by Joan that she decided to move up her retirement date to this Friday.  She chose to wait until the Weekly Wrap Up to send out her announcement.  So you will be reading that when it is released.

With this occurring, and Tandy has mentioned it in her email for the System Board, Joan will not be present for next Friday’s System Meeting.  She has contacted KPERS and they have instructed her not to be present at the library until her time limit is met. 

Joan was going to do our C.E. for the afternoon, and with the circumstances above, we will pivot to just a director’s forum and networking session.

We have not received permission to give out Joan’s personal email so if you would like to send her anything via email please send it to Tandy’s email and she will forward it to Joan.  If you would like to send her an actual card you can send it to the System Office, through the courier, and we will address it to Joan’s personal address so she receives it.

I want to also mention that I have known Joan since I came up in 1998.  I have enjoyed working with her and visiting with her on various occasions and topics.  I have learned much from her.  I also want to say that she has brought so much to her local community in the way of programs and services.  Some of which she created herself.  

I thank her for her companionship throughout the years and still look forward to visiting with her on the board or when we happen to see each other.

Well wishes to her and have fun with your time, because you know you won’t stay still long.

Image provided by pixabay.com contributor louisehoffmann83

Prepping for March 21st System Board Meeting – Richard Brookman

Hello everyone –

The year is starting out a bit rocky. I apologize for the Weekly Wrap-Up not hitting properly. The Tech staff worked on making changes on the settings and things didn’t go as they had planned.

Staffing has been up in the air. We had Bernardo come in and state he was resigning. I asked him if he would like for me to send out and email or if he wanted let the System Board and Membership know what was happening. He decided that he wanted do the notice himself and put it in the Weekly Wrap-Up and I told him I would honor his wishes. Then as mentioned above their were problems with the settings for the Weekly Wrap-Up and his Wrap-Up was posted late and then an email wasn’t sent out for the posting. For that I humbly apologize. We have changed direction on how the Weekly Wrap-Up is produced and distributed.

We have hired a new person for Tandy’s position. Her name is Tonia Pfaff. Her first day will be March 17. So everyone will be able to meet her at the System Meeting on March 21, in Kinsley or via Zoom.

The new draft of the 2026 System Plan is on the verge of completion. A copy will be sent out with the board documents for the March System Meeting. This is just so the Board can see how it is formatted for the State Library Board. Once the System approves the draft proposed 2026 budget it will have to be included and depending on if numbers change some of the items might have to be rearranged to meet the standard of how the State Library wants the document. So no action will be taken on the draft plan until the April Meeting.

After March I plan on doing a tour of the System to visit with you the directors, library staff, and system staff. This for me to find out what is working and what isn’t and get the System back on center ground. The visits might be in person, email, or by telephone. I am aiming for a 3 month time period to do this tour and then set up a meeting with the System Board. At this meeting I will relay what I found out and what we can possibly change to assist with the function of the System Office and helping our membership moving forward.

So a busy upcoming year. I look forward to visiting with each of you.

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State Library eCard Login Info

From the State Library of Kansas:

The State Library’s former address, kslc.org, is no longer working due to technical issues.

Use library.ks.gov/eCard to access statewide resources. It is best practice when working with patrons to link directly to the Statewide Resources page at library.ks.gov/statewide-resources.

DISCARD any brochures or flyers with kslc.org listed – they are obsolete. You will find updated promotional material at library.ks.gov/eCardAdmin. We will continue updating brochures and information.

Let us know if you have questions or would like assistance linking to specific statewide resources.

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Potential to Win a Gift Card: Rural Library Survey Opportunity

This is an invitation to the survey intended to explore the current rural library services that have been expanding to meet diversifying community needs and their impact on local communities.

You can participate in the survey if you identify your library as a rural or small library. If you’re unsure, a rural and small library is generally considered one that serves a community with a population of approximately under 25,000. However, this is not a strict criterion for defining rural & small status.

We would be very grateful if you would take the time to fill out our survey. If you think you are not the best person to participate, please forward this survey to who you think would be best able to answer our questions.

The survey should take about 20 minutes to complete. Deadline for survey responses is March 14, 2025 (Though we would very much appreciate input earlier than this date.)

After completing this survey, you will participate in a random drawing to receive a $20 e-Amazon gift card. We will give 200 cards in total among the winners.

This project is funded by IMLS #LG-254821-OLS-23. More information about the project is available on the project website: https://blogs.iu.edu/plss/

To participate, click Take the survey or the link below:

https://iu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_79Eyi1M391SKKG2

Sincerely,

Library Social Service Research Team at Indiana University Indianapolis

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Hot Off the FOKL Newsletter: Challenge Grant Information

What exciting idea does your Friends group have up its sleeve? Our Challenge Grants provide up to $500 in matching funds for a project that will help your Friends group support your library.

To be considered, the Friends group must: Submit a completed and signed application by April 1st (click for the Challenge Grant Application Form).Be a current member of FoKL (Friends group or library). Agree to recognize funds received from FoKL in library publicity (social media, signage, etc). Submit a Challenge Grant Report to FoKL no later than October 1st of the current year.

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Register for the Summer Library Program Workshop(s)!

This year’s Summer Library Program Workshop will held at Dodge City Public Library, in the Lois Flanagan Room (thank you, Carissa and staff!). It will be split into two events: in the morning, Patty Collins and Diane Bott from Central Kansas Library System will be presenting on the CSLP theme: Color Your World that is all about art, creativity, and COLOR! In the afternoon, Sara Wilson will be presenting on the iRead theme: Level Up at Your Library that is all about games, competition, and FUN! Lunch will be on your own, this year. You are welcome to attend either program or both. It promises to be a fun day, filled with laughter and tons of inspiration for your summer library program! Hope to see you there! Click here to register!

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Cataloging, Collection Development, and ILL

By Miguel Coca

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Collection Development Inspiration

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From the SWKLS Pro Collection

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Versed in VERSO

The March Versed in VERSO recording and presentation is posted. To access the recording and slides, please go to Staff Dashboard > Support > VERSO. 

Topics covered:

• Removal of old reports in upcoming release
• Best practices in setting up SMS notices
• Understanding MARC fixed fields and format types
• Questions
  • How to include Overdrive in your search
  • Managing expired patrons

Register for April 8, 2025 Versed in VERSO here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2899398314674141274

Thanks!

Julie

Julie Cavender, MLIS

VERSO Product Manager |  Lakewood, CO

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

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Technology

by Christopher Dressler

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