CASCADE: The Recycled Book

The Cascade Public Library has a gem in the City of Cascade. On July 5, 2008, the library—through the diligent efforts of a cast of volunteers and the local Friends of the Library group—opened a used book store. “The Recycled Book” was built from the ground up and boasts a collection of over 8,000 volumes of fiction and nonfiction books, books on tape and VHS tapes.

Previously, the local Friends group hosted an annual book sale to raise funds, but after the sale in 2007 they decided to find a better option. Moving hundreds of books back and forth for a one-day sale that netted about $300 was becoming too labor intensive. The dream of having a permanent building spread and, through the contacts of Library Director Robin Mayfield and Librarian Valerie Stewart-Rice, construction began.

Now over a year later, The Recycled Book has brought in more than $4,500 to help the library with reading programs, book purchases, and other items, such as a new lighting system for the main library. Superior donations and low prices keep the store busy. Friends of the Library members and other volunteers staff the store three days a week for a total of nine hours of business per week.

The bookstore has been a learning opportunity for all involved and continues to be a work in progress. The selection of books changes weekly depending on donations, but there is always something for everyone. The Recycled Book is located next to the Cascade Public Library and is open Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 11:00am to 2:00pm.

—Text and photo submitted by Robin Mayfield

IDAHO FALLS: American Library Association Selects Research Library’s Virtual Poster Submission 

The INL Research Library Strategic Planning & Technology Enhancement Team submitted a paper to the American Library Association's (ALA) Second Round of Virtual Poster Sessions in April. The focus of this Second Session was "Inquire Within." On June 17, notification was received that our submission was one of six submissions (out of a possible 25) selected in a juried process and slated for viewing during the ALA 2009 Annual Conference in Chicago, July 9-15, 2009, as well as on the ALA website during the month of July.  

The paper, entitled "Providing Online Access to Significant Nuclear Research," focuses on the digitization of the library's technical and research reports (the National Nuclear Archive), and the development of Needle, the interface for searching and retrieving information from these reports. 

For more information, see the ALA Annual Conference Materials Archive: 2009 Annual Virtual Posters.

—Submitted by Sandra Biermann

JEROME: In the press!

Jerome Public Library has been chosen for Spoonful of Stories book giveway (to represent Idaho). For more information, see page 6 of the October issue of Jerome's The City newsletter.

We also made the Times-News in Twin Falls (see article) with our First Book giveaway for the entire first grade at our elementary school...160+ students each month.

—Submitted by Laura Burnett

STATEWIDE: South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho, & Montana (SWIM) IMLS Scholarship Program

The University of North Texas (UNT) Department of Library and Information Sciences is beginning a new cohort program in September 2010 in Montana. Through this program, students can earn a master’s degree by participating in two four-day institutes to be held in Missoula on September 3-6, 2010, and in Billings on January 14 -17, 2011. Students can complete the rest of the degree online.  

The Web Institute portion of the Master’s program includes an orientation, technology training, and instruction in the Master’s program core courses, as well as time to socialize with Institute classmates and faculty. Students will enroll in the University of North Texas Department of Library and Information Sciences blended learning program, a 36 credit-hour program combining distance learning courses delivered via the Web (at least two courses per semester for six academic semesters) and the two intensive in-person four-day Web Institutes. 

Four states—South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana—have formed a formal partnership called SWIM to address library education needs in the region. The SWIM Regional Collaborative Library Education Project will provide scholarships to educate librarians through the UNT/LIS master’s program to work in the region's rural communities.  The funding is sponsored by the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS). 

SWIM scholarship includes:

• An opportunity to earn a MLIS degree from an ALA-accredited graduate program.
• Financial Support: Recipients will receive scholarships to cover approximately 80% of the cost of tuition, fees, and books (approximately $12, 960).
• Travel stipends for required training, residencies, and state library association conferences in the SWIM region, including support to attend the in-person Institutes. 

 Scholarship applicants must:

• Be a resident of Idaho, Montana, South Dakota or Wyoming.
• Have a BA/BS degree completed prior to fall 2010.
• Not be currently enrolled or have been previously enrolled in a MLIS since January 1, 2005.
• Apply to and be accepted to the MLIS distance program at UNT.
• Begin the MLIS program in the fall of 2010 and complete the program in two years in accordance with the cohort agreements (taking at least 6 credit hours a semester and attending courses every semester until graduation).
• Agree to work in an Idaho, Montana, South Dakota or Wyoming academic, public, school, special, or tribal library in a professional librarian position for 24 months after obtaining the graduate degree.

The scholarship application is due or must be postmarked by March 15th, 2010.  For more information about the SWIM scholarship program and the application for Idaho students go to http://libraries.idaho.gov/page/swim-learning-cohort-mlis-and-media-specialists. There is a link to applications for the graduate program and for the SWIM scholarship at http://libraries.idaho.gov/page/swim-mlis. Scholarships will be awarded on or before April 30, 2010.

—Submitted by Yvonne J. Chandler