Happy Halloween!

Here are some fun photos from Chippewa Falls Public Library. Have a safe fun Halloween!

Alltop for Libraries

Alltop (All Top Stories) is a good source for current information from top news websites and blogs on any given topic.  They now have a page for Libraries that is jam packed with all kinds of library information and ideas ideas and blogs.  Visit the site at http://libraries.alltop.com.

Hudson Area Library Grand Opening

Hudson Area Library celebrated the Grand Opening of it's new facility on October 2nd.  Located along the St. Croix river in downtown Hudson, the new building showcases lots of windows and an open airy feel. Many people attended the event and enjoyed various musical performances throughout the day. The winners of the logo/tagline design contest were announced and the new logo and tagline were unveiled  -  "Where Knowledge Flows Freely"  Their new website will be launched soon too. 

John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award

Your library does not have to be big with lots of money to spend on public relations in order to win the $5000 John Cotton Dana Award. This award cuts across type-of-library lines to select libraries that have distinguished themselves by their public education and public relations efforts.

"Everyone needs to remember," said John Cotton Dana Committee Chair Kim Terry, "that the judges don't look at how much the project costs, but at how creative or effective it was."

In 2001, the Dr. Eugene Clark Library in Lockhart, Texas, won for ‘Up On the Roof With the Loony Librarian,’ for which a librarian camped on the library’s dome for a week to raise funds for a renovation project.

In 2005, the Maricopa County Library District in Phoenix, AZ, developed ‘The Mystery Club of Luna Drive,’ an online young adult novel that gave teens an opportunity to solve a mystery using puzzles, ciphers and critical thinking.

One of the most innovative projects of recent years came out last year from Hackney Library at Barton College, in Wilson, N.C. in 2010. They created a “Band Book Tour,” a music festival centered on a fictional band that “stopped” at literary locations in controversial books. Giveaways of tour t-shirts and “all-access” lanyards and wallets continue to provide the library with exposure to this day, as students are frequently seen on campus with their tour gear.

“The size of your budget doesn’t matter,” Terry added, “so be sure to enter and share your great ideas with the rest of us.”

For an entry form, checklist, guidelines and tips, visit www.hwwilson.com/jcdawards/nw_jcd.htm.

Chippewa Valley Book Festival: Oct 18 - 24

Authors with ties to the Midwest join readers and writers in the Chippewa Valley to celebrate the written word.  Located in western Wisconsin, the Chippewa Valley is an exceptionally beautiful area offering outdoor recreation, unique attractions, and activities for the whole family.

Come meet a favorite author and have your book signed or listen to authors talk about their works.  We hope to see you at one of our many events for children, teens, and adults during the seven day festival.

Wisconsin Public Radio Talks With Librarians

On September 13^th, Wisconsin Public Radio host, Kathleen Dunn, talked with two top Wisconsin librarians about the growth in library usage, and the future of libraries in the Digital Age. Her guests were Marge Loch-Wouters, Youth Services Coordinator, La Crosse Public Library and Erick Plumb, Interim Director, Monona Public Library.

You can listen to the archive by going to this link www.wpr.org/kathleendunnwww.wpr.org/kathleendunn/

Altoona's New Teen Zone

During a summer reading program workshop called “Express Yourself @ the Library”, Altoona Public Library teens painted and decorated their TEEN ZONE lettering.  Youth Services Librarian Regina Arndt’s husband painted the teen zone walls red and added vinyl wall decals.  The “Friends of the Altoona Public Library” paid for the paint supplies, decals and the cool zebra rug.  Librarian Martha Spangler made the black and white pillows.  The end result is quite attractive. 

This is a very popular spot for the kids to hang out and enjoy a good book after school.