Wilmette Public Library is the recipient of the first ever ALA Presidential Citation for Gaming in Libraries (Education Category) for its Game Maker Academy program. The award was announced by ALA President Loriene Roy at the 2008 Annual Meeting in Anaheim. The award recognizes libraries that use games and gaming as tools for learning, literacy development and community development.

Skokie Public Library staff member Bruce Brigell has published an article in the ILA Reporter entitled "Rethinking 'Virtual' Reference." The articles covers some of the challenges facing remote reference and details some of the changes made to Ask Away. Read full article online or in print beginning on page 12.

NSLS Board President Edgar Mosshamer wrote an opinion piece for the ILA Reporter entitled "Closing the Gap." He describes the gap as "...the difference between where libraries are today and where they must be in the future." In addition, he talks about the need to move from advoacy to activism and what the NSLS board is doing to make changes in this arena. Read full column online or in print on page 31.

NSLS Board Member and Skokie Public Library Trustee Dayle Zelenka recently published an article in the ILA Reporter entitled "A Trusee for the Twenty-First Century." The article covers his search to discover the issues facing libraries today and how that affects the talents and behaviors needed by today's trustees. His findings center on three key elements: honing advocacy skills; exercising awareness, self education, and evaluation; and developing a firm grasp of fiscal policy while venturing into the realm of fundraising. Read his full article online or in print beginning on page 4.

Gail Borden Public Library was a recipient of the 2008 John Cotton Dana Award for its SPACE:Dare to Dream project. The library was also a Special Mention for Library Journal's 2008 Library of the Year.

Coffee is beginning to brew at Gail Borden Public Library. The library and La Tazza Coffee recently signed an agreement that will bring a coffee shop to the library this October.

La Tazza, (Italian word, meaning "The Cup"), was started in 1991 by Robert DeBenedictis. The company started serving specialty coffee beverages at black tie special events in many venues in Chicago such as the Merchandise Mart, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Drake, Knickerbocker and Palmer House Hilton hotels.

Since then, La Tazza has expanded to offering cappuccino and coffee services, plus an array of other menu items, to locations in the Loop on an on-going daily vending basis. Their flagship location is located at 321 N. Clark Street in Chicago in what used to be the old Quaker Oats building. La Tazza's corporate offices are centrally located in Lombard, IL.

"We are very excited to be opening a new location inside the Gail Borden Public Library. In addition to coffee and espresso drinks, we will be offering homemade parfaits, real fresh fruit smoothies, gourmet sandwiches, premium salads, fresh soup and chili daily, a complete pasta line, and a vast selection of snack items. To complement the coffee, we will receive daily deliveries of an extensive line of fresh baked pastries," said Val Valentino, an Elgin resident and he company's manager of Public Relations and Marketing. She added, "For an extra value to our patrons, we plan on having a very attractive Dollar Value Menu for children and adults. In addition, we are committed to give Senior Citizens a special value. Any senior can receive a cup of fresh brewed coffee for only 59 cents- all day, seven days a week."

La Tazza's beans are imported from Italy and European grown.

"There has seen a lot of growth in Elgin and we are excited for the opportunity for La Tazza to be contributing to the magnificent transformation of our downtown Elgin business area." Valentino added. Val will be responsible for developing seasonal specials and promotions at the coffee cafe while assisting the Gail Borden's customers with their special event coffee and catering needs.

Library Deputy Director Karen Maki, said, "Our library building was designed for a coffee shop and we are very pleased to be able at last to offer our customers this amenity. La Tazza will provide a wide selection of quality products at competitive prices in an inviting atmosphere. We look forward to this new venture."

The coffee shop will be located in the library's concession area, on the first floor next to the community rooms. It will feature both inside and outside dining.

"We are scheduled to open the La Tazza Cafe this October and we are thrilled with the enhancements occurring at the library in preparation for this new endeavor. La Tazza hopes to not only provide a necessary service to the library customers, but also looks forward to becoming a community coffeehouse favorite!" added Valentino.

Ela Area Public Library in Lake Zurich received two honorable mentions for graphics at ALA's Best of Show.

The fifth edition of Excellence in Library Services to Young Adults, published by ALA, was authored and edited by Amy Alessio, Teen Librarian at the Schaumburg Twp. Library. Roxy Ekstrom, also of STDL, was one of the judges selecting items to be included in the publication.

The Schaumburg Twp District Library won second place and a $200 Demco gift certificate for their presentation at the ALA Diversity and Outreach Fair. The title of the exhibit was "Having Fun Learning the more we're Different, the more we're the Same" with the subtitle reading "Diversity is just another way of saying how we all contribute to one another". The display represented the Library's multicultural outreach in Extension Services and Youth Services, says Barbara Adrianopoli.

Des Plaines Public Library’s Book Babes Hit Their Stride

Group raises funds for cancer research

The Des Plaines Public Library’s Book Babes, a team of energized individuals committed to raising funds and awareness for cancer research, raised $5350.00, making it the highest fundraising team in the sixth annual American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Des Plaines.

“We’re thrilled to be a part of this group,” says Veronica Schwartz, Des Plaines Public Library Head of Youth Services and Book Babe team captain. “Cancer is something that has touched the lives of every employee at the library. Many of us have had loved ones affected by the disease. We are proud to have participated in all six of the Relays in Des Plaines.”

The annual event is also dear to many at the Library on a personal level. It has four cancer survivors on staff and it knows how difficult it is to get news that you have cancer and not knowing where to turn for help. The staff is very supportive of the Book Babes and contributed $600 to the team through staff bake sales and days when staff could wear jeans to work in exchange for a donation.

The Des Plaines Public Library is a great resource for those interested in accessing credible and helpful information about cancer. While there is an inordinate amount of data online and in books, the library staff is able to assist individuals find information easily and quickly.


“We want the Des Plaines Public Library to be a resource for our community,” says Schwartz. “Whether you’re getting married, having a child, or have been diagnosed with a major illness, we have resources available that will help you find quality information so you can make informed decisions.”

The Library is already planning even bigger and better things for 2009’s Relay For Life. For more information about the Relay For Life or the American Cancer Society, visit www.cancer.org.

Nancy Prichard, Mount Prospect Public Library, won the name the newsletter contest for DVAlibrary.com. Her entry, "The Reel Deal," earns $500 in DVDs for MPPL.

The ISLMA/LBSS Endowment Fund has announced that 160 Illinois schools and libraries will receive the first annual ISLMA/LBSS Endowment Fund Grants. Grant recipients will receive one set of books for the 2009 reading campaign at the level indicated on their grant application. The Illinois children’s choice reading awards programs are the Monarch Award (20 books K- 3rd), the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award (20 books 4th -8th), and the Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award (22 books 9th – 12th). Students will read the books and vote for their favorite title.

Congratulations to the NSLS school library recipients:

- Central Elementary School, Lake Bluff
- Fairhaven School, Mundelein
- Forest Elementary, Des Plaines
- Hawthorne Elementary, Vernon Hills
- Highland School, Skokie
- Lake Zurich Middle School, Lake Zurich
- Larkin High School, Elgin
- Lincoln School, Highland Park
- Melzer Elementary, Morton Grove
- Ravinia School, Highland Park
- River Trails, Mount Prospect
- Robert Crown Elementary, Wauconda
- Thomas Jefferson Middle School, Waukegan
- W.C. Petty Elementary, Antioch
- Windsor School, Arlington Heights

The Swap and Shop Committee of the Public Relations and Marketing section of the Library Administration and Management Association (LAMA) has announced the winners of the 2008 Best of Show awards. The awards recognize the best library public relations and marketing materials from the previous year, across 12 material types and four budget categories. This year, two NSLS libraries were recognized:

- Ela Area Public Library District received an honorable mention in the Special Programs and Events Category.

- Grayslake Area Public Library District received an honorable mention in the Adult and Family Reading Materials/One Book Materials category.

For more information about this award and to view a full list of recipients, view the press release.

Award-winning author Tobias Wolff, whose book “The Barracks Thief” has been selected as the One Book, One Highland Park featured title, will appear at the Highland Park Public Library on Tuesday, July 15, at 7 p.m. Mr. Wolff will read from “The Barracks Thief” and discuss his writing. A question and answer session and book signing will follow the program.

Wolff’s “The Barracks Thief,” the summer title for the One Book One Highland Park community-wide read program, is a brief yet powerful tale of three young paratroopers waiting to be shipped out to Vietnam. The award-winning novella tells the story of the three young men who share an experience that affects each of them in profoundly different ways and is an insightful examination of compassion, perspective and tolerance. Discussions of the “Barracks Thief” are scheduled at the Highland Park Public Library and the Highland Park Borders during the month of July. And, to enhance the experience of reading the “Barracks Thief,” Mr. Wolff will speak about the book.

In addition to “The Barracks Thief,” Wolff’s books include the memoirs “This Boy’s Life” and “In Pharaoh’s Army: Memories of the Lost War;” the novel “Old School;” and four collections of short stories, “In the Garden of the North American Martyrs,” Back in the World,” “The Night in Question,” and most recently, “Our Story Begins: New and Selected Stories.” He has also edited several anthologies. Wolff’s work has been translated widely and has received numerous awards including the PEN/Faulkner Award, The Los Angeles Times Book Prize, both the PEN/Malamud and the Rea Award for Excellence in the Short Story, and the Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Wolff is the Ward W. and Priscilla B. Woods Professor of English at Stanford.

“The Barracks Thief” is the second title of the One Book, One Highland Park community-wide read program, a joint project with The City of Highland Park, the Highland Park Public Library and Highland Park Borders Books & Music. The program was initiated this spring to broaden and deepen an appreciation of reading and compel friends, family and neighbors to share their experience while reading the same book. The project seeks to engage the community in dialogue and bring them together by promoting tolerance and understanding about different points of view. The initial One Book, One Highland Park title for the community-wide read was “Maus: A Survivor’s Tale,” by Art Spiegelman.

“An Evening with Tobias Wolff” at the Highland Park Public Library is free and open to the public. The program begins at 7 p.m. and will conclude with a book signing of Mr. Wolff’s work. The program is also presented by the City of Highland Park and the Highland Park Borders Books & Music.

The Highland Park Public Library strives to provide the highest quality Library services to community members for life-long learning, cultural enrichment, and enjoyment. The Highland Park Public Library is located at 494 Laurel Avenue, Highland Park. For more information, please call (847) 432-0216.

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Former NSLS board member Nancy Heggem has a poem in the book Wild Things: Domestic and Otherwise; ed. Whitney Scott; Dyer Indiana: Outrider Press, 2008.