If a picture is worth a thousand words, then fans of graphic novels are logging much more text than the average reader. However, there are still folks out there who think people who read graphic literature aren’t really reading. At least four graphic novel fans want to prove this point wrong and attendees of KLA 2010 will hear from purveyors and experts at “Graphic Novels from the Inside and for the Outside.” There’s no question that graphic novel collections are some of the most popular and growing collections in libraries among teen and adult readers. There has been a surge in publishing as well with a growing focus on nonfiction, travelogues, history, and memoir. All of these genres are popular with general readers and are great pathfinders for readers who are wary of the graphic novel format.

Two of the library world’s funniest fans will be on hand to talk about graphic novels and their origins, Gene Ambaum and Bill Barnes. You know them from the daily librarian situation-comic strip, Unshelved. Royce Kitts, Tonganoxie Public Library, and Joshua Neff, Johnson County Public Library, will also discuss graphic novels from the perspective of perpetual fanboys and in their alternate guises as adults who feel responsible for a solid and circulating collection of
graphic novels for libraries. Rejuvenate an existing collection or get ready to start one by getting solid tips from this KLA session.

See you at the Kansas Library Conference in Wichita!

As a new librarian, I have to admit that I find something new and fascinating about the profession nearly every time I have a conversation with a colleague or work with a patron. But I’m finding that the profession is in an intriguing search for its own identity, while at the same time I’m trying to determine of what that character consists. It’s not a crisis, I hasten to add, because I don’t sense the panic and confusion that frequently accompany calamities. Instead, I recognize that we librarians are doing what we’ve done for patrons for generations: finding information that solves problems and engenders solutions.

Public libraries recognize that books continue to define most missions, and they build collections that compete with the contemporary bookstore and then, hopefully, do more. They have books that reflect the essence of the people and the history of a unique community. They keep books that speak to the generations of children that came before the current cohort of kids coming up. But to be relevant, public libraries must provide not only books, but books on tape, music, movies, and even games. In many communities, libraries are the trenches in which the digital divide is waged on a day-by-day basis. These libraries look and sound as different as the towns, neighborhoods, and cities they serve and foster, but to the public they serve, they look the same in each: people with problems or passions who know where to find what they seek.

Academic libraries are transforming, too. No longer cavernous repositories of books, libraries on campuses are recasting their images to resemble an array of Information Commons models currently being tried across the nation. Students must learn to navigate the often overwhelming waves of indiscriminate information available to both novice and experienced researchers. Centers of learning have a responsibility to provide the most comprehensive resources affordable, but librarians in educational settings have an obligation to provide not only the information itself, but the skills researchers need to make optimum use of the available information.

At the end, though, with all the changes taking place in every corner of the library profession, I feel the twin engines of excitement and confidence propelling me into an indeterminate future holds our common fate. I know my library companions are in this for the long haul. I talk to librarians from many states and through different media, and I know that while we may at times differ in methods, our responsibility is unyielding and resolute. In the blogs and wikis, in essays, emails, and articles, the voices of librarians across the land speak with vibrancy and volume: we accept the challenge. We are the future. The time is now.

How may we help you, today?

Twenty-Five dollars for a personal sponsorship and One-Hundred-Twenty-Five dollars if the library you work for would like to sponsor. You can specify a favorite month, a favorite friend who is a calendar participant, or the committee will pick a place for your business card size ads.

I would like to Thank the committee for helping me with this fun project, also the librarians and trustee’s who submitted their picture idea, also the photographers who are giving their time and talent, last but not least the vendor’s and personal sponsorships that have come in. Without the support of these people and their dollars the project could not happen. THANK YOU!!

Plan now to be in Wichita, April 7-9, 2010. Emily Sitz along with the help of the event planning committee has many excellent programs for you to choose from.

Take a look now at the user friendly website for the conference. Rosanne from the KLA office along with Emily, Steve and Charlene at the Southwest Kansas Library System have worked very hard to give all librarians in the state easy access to plan your itinerary for conference along with getting the best presenters such as, Maureen Sullivan, C.J. Critt, Tracie Hall and a few of our very own, Janelle Mercer, Mickey Coalwell, Kathy Rippel, Micaele Ayers, Gail Santy and KLA’s Second Vice Chair, Royce Kitts. Don’t miss this opportunity to see Kansas Librarians like you have never seen them before. See you there!

I am on the downhill climb for the position of Kansas Library Association Chair. Being in this position has given me many new lessons, some fun and some quite challenging, but all a learning experience. I wish much luck to Emily Sitz and Royce Kitts. Both will be excellent rep’s for you.

Laura Loveless and the nominating committee will be bringing you several names to choose from for the next slate of officers. Please vote, as it is you who the Executive Council represents.

Click SELECT and save your seat to spend “An Evening with Lisa Scottoline” at the 2010 KLA Conference on Wednesday, April 7 at 7:30 p.m.  Noted for her funny and highly entertaining presentations as well as her hugely popular writings, Scottoline will talk about her inspiration, writing, and passion for libraries as well as answer questions from audience members at the end.

In addition, she will also do a book signing including her new title, “Think Twice,” a copy of which will be included in the ticket price for the first three hundred purchasers.   This event is a fundraiser for the Kansas Library Association Educational Foundation and will be open to the public, but conference-goers get first shot so gather your means, establish your motive, and seize the opportunity to start your conference experience with a bang!

In addition to the program, the foundation will again be selling opportunities to win the rockin’ gift baskets that you and your libraries and friends donate to the cause.  Thank you in advance for your continued support of this key fundraiser that helps to supply continuing education dollars to the Kansas library family.  From a “Chocolate Tower” to “A Day at the Beach” to “A Day on the Trail” (complete with lariat!), the baskets make wonderful gifts and prizes and the foundation board can’t wait to see what you have up your creative sleeves this year.

At the helm of the board for 2010 is Marie Pyko of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. President Marie is joined by Rita Sevart of the Wichita Area Technical College Library as the Vice-President/President-Elect, Leslie Bell of the Northwest Kansas Library System as Treasurer, and Secretary Kristin Whitehair of the University of Kansas Medical Center’s Dykes Library.

New to the board this year are Pat Clement, Pittsburg Public Library; Gloria Creed-Dikeogu, Myers Library at Ottawa University, Sharon DuBois, Jay Johnson Public Library in Quinter, Bruce Flanders, Lawrence Public Library, and Joe McKenzie, Salina Public Library.  They are joined by KLA’s President and Treasurer, Denise Smith and Cynthia Berner-Harris, and by KLA Executive Director Rosanne Siemens who serves as a nonvoting ex officio member.

In addition to new board members and a new conference event, the foundation has a new home at the Northwest Kansas Library System at #2 Washington Square in Norton.  Thanks go to system director Leslie Bell for supplying this space that includes storage for the organization’s records, supplies, etc.  System business manager, Valerie Elliott, has also been hired to assist with foundation business a few hours each week.

With your help, this year will be a great one for the foundation and for Kansas librarians beginning with a killer program at a fantastic conference.  Make sure you can visit the scene of the crime and register now at http://kslibassoc.org/2010Conf/.

“We are very excited to welcome Jo to Kansas,” said Parkinson. “Her 25 years of experience and leadership in state libraries will ensure that homes and schools across our state continue to receive the important services the Kansas State Library has to offer.”

For the past five years, Budler has served as the Ohio State Librarian. Previously, she was the deputy state librarian for the Library of Michigan and the director of Network Services and NEBASE, the State of Nebraska’s Online Computer Library Center network. She holds a Master’s in Library Science and a Master’s of Fine Arts in Writers’ Workshop, both from the University of Iowa.

Budler will replace interim State Librarian Marc Galbriath, who served in the role since June 2009 after former State Librarian Christie Brandau announced her retirement.

The numbers of items shipped has been reported as follows.  July items shipped: 32,737, August items shipped: 43,680 with 189 libraries reporting.  That is an overall cost of 82 cents per item shipped during August.

Highlights of service other than the numbers include endorsements from librarians.

“We are thrilled with this service . . . . we love everything about it and it does seem we are sending out more ill books than before -  but that is great!  Before when my postage money was gone for the month, we just had to say ‘No’ to requests.” (Ness City library director, Jean Schlegel)

Nancy Saddler of Pioneer Memorial Library in Colby comments, “ . . .  I LOVE the courier.  In just July and August, our courier packages saved us $503.88 in postage! (For my own information I weighed the packages I sent on the courier, so these are actual cost savings.) We will recoup our investment in the next month or so, and then the REAL savings begin.”

Kansas Library Express is committed to providing reliable and efficient courier service to participating libraries throughout Kansas. Delivery days and times are established for all participating libraries based on their service request and the courier company’s routing requirements with available delivery options of either 3 or 5 days per week.  Day-to-day management of this service is provided by the Northeast Kansas Library System (NEKLS.)  Libraries interested in joining the Kansas Library Express service, or with any questions about the service, should contact NEKLS at any time 785-838-4090 or contact Carolyn Little, Courier Services Coordinator, clittle@nekls.org[.]

Can you believe it?

I can’t.

and better yet, a new one is coming out right after conference.

Conference highlights:
Keynote Speaker Will Manley, longtime Will’s World & Manley Arts
columnist
Keynote Speaker Brad Meltzer, #1 bestselling author
KLA Luncheon Speaker Roland Smith, award winning YA author
CULS Luncheon Speaker Lori Goetsch, ACRL Vice President
Library Celebration Luncheon FoKL/KLTA
State Librarian’s Luncheon
Pre-Conference Speaker Warren Graham, Black Belt Librarian
KLA/MPLA Awards Banquet
100+ enlightening sessions to choose from!

Be sure to join us for a fabulous joint conference in Wichita April 1-3, 2009!

If you have trouble with registration, please contact Carolyn at
kslibassoc@yahoo.com or Laura at llove@kckpl.lib.ks.us

The MAE Award for Best Literature Program for Teens is sponsored by the Margaret A. Edwards Trust.

Edwards was a well-known and innovative young adult services librarian at Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, Md., for more than 30 years. Her trust has supported many initiatives from YALSA, including the Alex Awards for adult books with teen appeal and all five rounds of the Excellence in Library Service to Young Adults project.

Criteria

• The purpose of the reading or literature program must be to bring young adults and books together and to encourage the development of life-long reading habits.
• The program must be specifically designed for and targeted at reaching young adults.
• All or part of the program must have taken place in the twelve months preceding the award deadline date of December 1.
• The applicant must work directly with young adults and be a personal member of the Young Adult Library Services Association.
• Nonwinning entries may be resubmitted in subsequent years if the program is current and ongoing and if a new application that updates the documentation is submitted.

Guidelines

1. All entries must include the application form (PDF) provided by the Young Adult Library Services Association.
2. All applicants must be current personal members of ALA/YALSA at the time the application is submitted.
3. Entries should be models of clarity and completeness.
4. The application should be e-mailed to Nichole Gilbert at ngilbert@ala.org. Questions can be directed to Nichole at 1.800.545.2433 x 4387.
5. Applications must be received no later than December 1 of the current year.

The KLA is putting together a new Newsletter.

We are hoping to have this out on the ‘stands’ by the middle of October.

The only definite thing right now is a section that will include Section/Roundtable Notes. So if you have something to pass along about your roundtable or section please forward that to me by October 5^th. We will have a word limit of 150 words per group.

We also highly encourage participation from affiliates and students.

If you would like to submit an article for the publication, please forward that to me as well. The deadline for submissions is October 5^th.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kansas Rules!

Royce Kitts

Director

Tonganoxie Public Library

KLA Newsletter Editor