Deaf iPhone Users Connect with Video Relay Interpreters

WRelay, a company based in Salt Lake City, Utah, just launched IWRelay VRS, the iPhone's first mobile video relay app. With it, deaf or hearing-impaired iPhone users can have easy video-based phone calls with hearing friends and family members. The app connects deaf iPhone users with video relay interpreters using the iPhone's new FaceTime feature.

Using FaceTime, a deaf caller communicates by sign language with the interpreter. The interpreter then translates for the hearing caller. The hearing caller's words are then signed back to the deaf caller. The company says that product testers have been overwhelmingly positive in their

feedback. The app is available for free download. Deaf and hearing-impaired callers can access video relay interpreters through the app for free as part of the FCC's Interstate Telecommunications Relay Services Fund. http://www.appscout.com/2010/07/iphone_gets_first_mobile_video.php

Ogema Public Library's Summer Reading Program

Ogema Public Library’s Summer Reading Program had 56 participating children  plus some parents that stayed to help or join in the fun! 

Ogema, Wisconsin, located in Price County, has a population of 840 people.  Jay Heims, the library director, had fun reading and doing activities with the Primary group (4-8yrs.), with the help of Sharon Klassen, volunteer.  

Susan Freiboth, library aide, did reading and active activities with the Tweens group (9-12 yrs.). Connie Grapa and Wendy Rebne had both groups at different times for a Healthy Snack/Game time.

All the participants enjoyed many different water themed activities. A hit with the Primaries was the "Sink or Float" activity with Jay.

On the last day, the Tweens had fun participating in a Pirate Scavenger hunt using written clues along with the Card Catalog to find the corresponding book which then led them onto the next clue to find the wooden "Treasure Chest" filled with goodies!

All that attended were winners!

I Love My Librarian Award

Nominate your librarian for the third year of the Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award! 

Nominations for 2010 stay open through September 20.
Nominate a librarian in a:
School Library
Public Library
College, Community College, University Library

There are nearly 123,000 libraries nationwide, and librarians touch the lives of the people they serve every day.  The award encourages library users like you to recognize the accomplishments of exceptional public, school, college, community college, or university librarians.  We want to hear how you think your librarian is improving the lives of the people in your school, campus or community.

Up to ten winners will be selected this year and receive a $5,000 cash award, a plaque and $500 travel stipend to attend an awards reception in New York hosted by The New York Times.  In addition, a plaque will be given to each award winner’s library.

The award is administered by the American Library Association with support from Carnegie Corporation of New York and The New York Times.

Questions? Contact Megan Humphrey: mhumphrey@ala.org

Win a $2,500 or $1,000 Grant

Freedom to Read Foundation announces competition for two Banned Books Week grants

Judith Krug Fund will provide $2,500 and $1,000 awards to Read-Outs

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF), through its Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund, will provide two grants—one for $2,500 and one for $1,000—to two organizations to support “Read-Outs” celebrating Banned Books Week 2010.  Applications for the grants will be accepted through Aug. 27, and the announcements will be made the week of Sept. 6.  Banned Books Week 2010 will be held Sept. 25–Oct. 2. 

This is the first announced project for the Judith Krug Memorial Fund, established after Krug’s death in April 2009.  Krug was the founding executive director of the Freedom to Read Foundation, which was established in 1969 as a First Amendment legal defense organization affiliated with the American Library Association (ALA).  Krug founded Banned Books Week in her capacity as director of the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom.

A Banned Books Week Read-Out is an event during which people celebrate the freedom to read by gathering to read from books that have been banned or challenged over the years.  To help kick off this year’s Banned Books Week, ALAwill be holding its annual Read-Out on Saturday, Sept. 25 in Chicago’s Washington Square Park—also known as Bughouse Square.  Authors of some of the most frequently challenged books of 2009 will be reading from their works, including Lauren Myracle (the ttyl, ttfn,l8r g8r series), Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson (“And Tango Makes Three”), Stephen Chbosky (“Perks of Being a Wallflower”), and Carolyn Mackler (“The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things”). Award-winning (and frequently challenged) author Chris Crutcher will emcee the event.

 “Judith Krug always loved the Chicago Read-Outs,” said Freedom to Read Foundation President Kent Oliver.  “She enjoyed talking with the authors, the performers and particularly with the many young readers who came to hear the authors and get some wonderful books!  She also always delighted in learning about other events going on around the country.  She was so proud of Banned Books Week and how it was embraced nationally in schools, libraries, universities, book stores and online.  We’re thrilled to offer these grants to encourage others around the country to hold their own celebrations of our freedom to read.”

To apply for a Judith Krug Banned Books Week Event grant, visit www.ala.org/krugfund.  Organizations are required to submit an event description, timeline and budget with their application, as well as agree to provide a written report and video to FTRF following Banned Books Week.  For more information on Banned Books Week, visit www.ala.org/bbooks.  A compendium of thousands of books that have been banned and challenged can be found in the “2010 Banned Books Resource Guide,” available via the ALA Store at www.alastore.ala.org.  You can also purchase Banned Books Week posters, buttons, bookmarks, t-shirts, bracelets, and tote bags there. 

Contact Jonathan Kelley at jokelley@ala.org or Nanette Perez at nperez@ala.org with questions, or call (800) 545-2433, ext. 4226.

Making a Difference, One Storm Drain at a Time

Fall Creek Public Library is teaming up with local organizations and community members to promote the health of local waterways. On August 21, 2010, 9:45AM, Fall Creek Library will stencil “Drains to River – do not dump” above Fall Creek’s storm drains. This project is volunteer-based--anyone over the age of 10 can sign up at the library. A potluck will follow clean-up.

This project will encourage community members and visitors to take a closer look at waterways, streets, and pollution. Many people do not realize that everything that flows down the drains goes to local waterways. Leaves, grass clippings, lawn chemicals, animal feces, oil, refuse from carwashes, trash and cigarette butts are most likely to end up in waterways via storm drains. This community-wide project promotes the “act local, think global” philosophy, including the pollution of waterways. Everyone has the power to make positive changes, one little storm drain at a time!

Volunteers are needed to spray paint the drains, clean up, be group leaders, and safety leaders.  If you are unavailable August 21, you can still help! Donations are requested for garbage bags, rags, duct tape, spray paint, and safety mouth/nose masks. Volunteers are needed to place door hangers one week before the stenciling, pass around handouts to friends and family, and to post signs around town.  

Contact coordinator Jenna Gilles at 715.877.3334 or jgilles@ifls.lib.wi.us for more information or to volunteer. Volunteers under age 18 are required to have a permission slip signed. All participants are required to sign a safety and responsibility form. Upon request, the library will provide an official recognition letter for volunteers’ schools or businesses. Inclement weather date is August 28. This event is a culmination of a summer reading program with the theme Make a Splash @ Your Library! 

Thanks to Karen R. Hurd Nutritional Practice, LLC for her generous donation to help fund the project. 

Old Spice Man Speaks Out For Libraries

Check out this you-tube video of the Old Spice guy speaking out for libraries.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu-KBxOtJxs

BadgerLink Posters, Bookmarks, Promotional Items

The BadgerLink staff at Resources for Libraries & Lifelong Learning (RL&LL), Department of Public Instruction, along with EBSCO staff are working together to revise the BadgerLink posters, bookmarks and other promotional items. Several of these new products are available now at:

        www.ebscohost.com/custom/default.php?id=325

Feel free to print and distribute these materials to your library’s users OR post these materials on your library’s website!  We have some materials already printed. Contact us at dpibadgerli@dpi.wi.gov to request any of these. 

Last fall the BadgerLink staff asked for the community’s opinions regarding promotional material. The BadgerLink team used this input to begin working through revising the materials for libraries.    Design, production, and printing assistance are provided by EBSCO as part of its statewide contract with BadgerLink. This current array of promotional items represents the first results from that process.

The work continues!!!  We will add to the material over the coming months adding more posters and bookmarks and other materials! If you would like to give BadgerLink staff feedback or make suggestions let us know at:

        forms.dpi.wi.gov/se.ashx?s=56301B2D4CC6DCBF

BadgerLink is a project of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning. Its goal is to provide access to quality online information resources for Wisconsin residents in cooperation with the state's public, school, academic, and special libraries.