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Illinois State Library Annual Report: FY99
Fiscal year 1999 was a year of growth and transition at the Illinois State Library. The responsibilities of the Office of Secretary of State passed to new Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White, and the new State Library administration continued to provide quality service to the people and libraries of Illinois a top priority. Expanding access to electronic information for all Illinois libraries and library users is a major part of the dedication to quality service. We all share the same goals - accessing information as quickly and efficiently as possible and promoting the importance of books and reading. Major accomplishments toward these goals are covered in the following report.
Jean Wilkins, Director Promoting libraries and reading The Illinois State Library celebrated 160 years of service during FY99. Long-time library director Bridget Lamont resigned to serve in the new governor's administration and Jean Wilkins was named Illinois State Library director. Family Reading Night: "Read Together, Grow Together" once again was the theme for the annual bilingual campaign that encourages families to read together at home. Illinois artist Jeff Carnehl created the artwork for nearly 4 million posters, bookmarks, brochures, postcards and stickers that were distributed by Illinois schools, libraries and literacy programs in celebration of the event on November 19 1998. Parents of babies born on Family Reading Night received gifts of books through a cooperative effort with the Illinois Hospital and HealthSystems Association. Illinois Authors Literary Weekend: Best-selling novelist Scott Turow headlined a distinguished group of 60 Illinois authors at the State Library on Friday and Saturday Oct. 23-24, 1998. Turow addressed a capacity crowd at the literary dinner on Friday evening. Also on Friday, authors visited Springfield area classrooms to read and talk with the students. Co-sponsored by the State Library and the Illinois Center for the Book, the book fair received financial support from many organizations, including Ameritech, the Illinois Humanities Council and IBM. A portion of the proceeds from the book fair support the Illinois Authors Collection at the State Library. Read for a Lifetime: Geared toward encouraging lifelong reading habits in high school students, the program was launched during the 1998-99 school year. To complete the program, students had to read four books from a list of 25 titles representing a variety of literacy genres. At the end of the school year, 769 students representing 62 Illinois high schools received a certificate of achievement from Secretary of State Jesse White, along with a discount coupon from the program's co-sponsor, Waldenbooks. Publications: Seven issues of the Illinois State Library newsletter. Insight, were distributed to a mailing list of 10,000, and four issues of Illinois Libraries were sent to more than 5,000 readers. An addition to the Special Report Series was a 20-year supplement, Illinois! Illinois! An Annotated Bibliography of Fiction. An updated version of the brochure, Serving Illinois, listing services available from the State Library, was printed as well as an update of the Illinois Authors on the Illinois State Library Building booklet and bookmark. A bookmark promoting the Abraham Lincoln patent exhibit at the State Library was created. A child abuse prevention bookmark, co-sponsored by Secretary White, also was widely distributed. Press Releases: Twenty-two announcements pertaining to library issues were distributed to media outlets statewide. Grants: The number of grants awarded in FY99 and processed by Administrative Services staff increased from 2,896 in FY98 to 3,154 in FY99 — a 9 percent increase. Legislation: The spring 1999 session of the General Assembly marked the passage of a rewrite of the Illinois State Library Act. Illinois Authors Web Site: The State Library instituted a new project dedicated to Illinois authors on its Web site. Users can download brief biographical information on their favorite Illinois authors, including the authors' 203 most notable works and their ties to Illinois. Also available is information about the 35 authors whose names are engraved on the frieze of the State Library building. The site contained information on more than 200 Illinois authors by the end of the year, with ongoing additions planned. Lincoln Patent Exhibits: On March 8, 1999, Secretary of State and State Librarian opened an exhibit at the State Library of a patent Abraham Lincoln filed with the U.S. patent office in Washington, D.C. on May 22, 1849. The detailed model of the Patent No. 6469 is for flotation devices attached to watercraft to lessen the draft when entering shallow waters. The model is on loan from the Smithsonian National Museum of History and will be displayed at the library through November 1999. International Visitors: The State Library and the Mortenson Center for International Library Programs at the University of Illinois continued a partnership in educating international librarians. In November 1998, the State Library played host to Mortenson associates representing Uzbekistan, Denmark, Armenia, China, Russia, Ukraine, India and Bhutan. In March 1999, the seventh class of Library of Congress-Soros Foundation fellows representing Bulgaria, Croatia, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, the Slovak Republic, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Hungry, Poland and Lithuania toured the library. Three additional Mortenson associates from Haiti also were part of the spring tour. Illinois State Fair: The State Library showcased its latest technology-based services at Tech Town, a new-age technology exhibit that drew thousands of visitors at the Illinois State Fair in August 1998. Tech Town included online demonstrations of the FirstSearch, Health Reference Center and NoveList databases. This display featured presentations of a popular children's literacy CD-ROM and a PowerPoint slide tour of the State Library. A demonstration of the Newsline Network also was part of the exhibit. Improving library services statewide Videoconferences: Six videoconferences were produced by State Library staff and beamed via satellite to librarians and trustees. Each videoconference was available at sites throughout Illinois, and tapes were distributed to the library systems. Sites in other states as well as international locations also downlinked the broadcasts. Topics included:
• First Steps in Digitizing - September 1998 Educate & Automate Grants: More than $2.1 million was awarded to libraries in January 1999 to purchase computers and other technology through the "Educate & Automate" technology grants. The State Library received more than 620 applications for this annual competitive grant program, with a total of 339 grants awarded in the following categories:
• Internet Access - 118 awarded ($287,645) Educate & Automate literacy grants were awarded to 200 libraries, literacy agencies and child agencies. Grant recipients received 10 instructional CD-ROM software packages for use by families and an instructional manual for students to use with the CD-ROMS. Public Library Per Capita and Equalization Aid Grants: Now in its 21st year the per capita grant program provided more than $178 million for public libraries in Illinois. More than $13.3 million in per capita grants were shared by 622 public libraries in FY99. Thirty-seven of the libraries shared $214,366 in equalization aid since the communities property tax base was less than $4.25 per capita. School Library Grants: School libraries across Illinois were awarded a total of more than $1.3 million through the school library grants program. The program benefited 1.8 million Illinois students. School districts used the money for a variety of projects, from supplementing their library collections to initiating new programs and services. Since the program began in 1991, funding has increased from 21 cents to 75 cents per student, and the number of grants awarded has increased by 40 percent. Live & Learn Construction Grants: Construction grants for 12 public libraries were announced in January 1999. A total of $1.4 million was awarded to the libraries to build, expand or renovate facilities to help meet community needs. With maximum grants of $250,000, the communities of Elbum, Beardstown and Des Plaines will 204 build new libraries, and Peoria Heights will convert an existing building into a library. Other libraries expanded their technology labs, study centers, meeting rooms and learning centers. For the second year, the construction grant program offered "mini" grants for small library construction projects costing no more than $35,000. Unlike conventional construction grants, the six mini grants awarded did not require matching community funds. Library Services and Technology Act Grants (LSTA): In the first round of federal Library Services and Technology Act grants for FY99, more than $900,000 was awarded to 24 library projects. Grants ranged from $1,150 to $197,500 for projects such as expansion and development of library collections and providing innovative library services. As examples:
• Washington School, Evanston opened its library in the evening for parents and students; Other LSTA grants during the year included the new "Bring in An Expert" program. To provide professional expertise to school, public, academic and special libraries, 533 Illinois libraries received $1,567,614 with a maximum grant of $4,500. The mini-grants enabled libraries to contract with Illinois experts on policy writing, staff and collection development, technology and marketing. Maximum grants were 4,500 each. Services to the Visually & Physically Impaired: Illinois' Talking Book Centers served more than 18,000 patrons and circulate more than 920,000 cassettes, Braille and descriptive videos to their patrons. State grants to the Illinois Regional Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped, subregional Talking Book Centers and Radio Information Services totaled more than $2.7 million in FY99. Newsline Network: In the second year of service, Newsline Network provided more than 5,000 visually- or physically-impaired registrants with daily access to the Chicago Tribune, USA Today and the New York Times. Using a touch-tone phone, Newsline gives each reader options and control over what individual newspaper articles are accessed when. The only cost to the reader is the telephone call made from the reader's phone to the closest of 11 Newsline service centers statewide. Library & Information Science Training Grants: In summer 1998, annual training grants were awarded to 15 students pursuing graduate degrees in library and information science. Grant recipients are required to work for two years at an eligible ILLINET library or the Illinois State Library upon completion of the master's degree program. NoveList: In July 1998, the State Library purchased multiple-site licenses for NoveList, a reader's advisory database. Staff at more than 300 libraries took advantage of this tool. Twelve day-long training sessions were presented statewide. NoveList has improved public service for the state's large group of fiction readers and has contributed to increased computer use by all ages. Statewide Library Practitioners' Summit: More than 250 librarians and support personnel attended the State Library-sponsored Interlibrary Loan and Reference conference in December 1998. The conference, a sequel to last year's statewide meeting, was expanded and lengthened to include reference topics. Sessions included information from basic interlibrary loan and reference to the latest information on library automation, OCLC products, the current state of copyright law and the future of resource sharing in Illinois. "Craft of Consulting" Workshop: Despite heavy snow in January, the State Library consulting staff was joined by library system consultants at a five-day workshop presented by Schreiber Shannon Associates. The workshop at the Illinois State Library covered the art of consultation, group facilitation techniques, organizational change, new technologies in planning and a six step consulting model. Small Public Library Management Institute: Advanced sessions in library management, laws and policies, legislation, intellectual freedom and grant writing were offered to more than 50 library directors and assistant library directors at the week-long institute held at Western Illinois University in Macomb in June 1999. The sixth annual institute was a follow-up session that built on skills acquired by attendees of previous institutes. A federal grant, administered by the Illinois State Library, funded the institute. Institute for School and Public Librarians: More than 50 librarians from across the state attended the fourth annual institute, held in June 1999, at Bradley University in Peoria. Continuing education programs and activities focused on the basic skills and knowledge needed to improve service in small- and medium-sized public and school libraries. Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White presented certificates to the participants, and Bradley University awarded Continuing Education Units to all attendees. The annual institute was 205 funded by the federal grant administered by the Illinois State Library. Grant Applications Made: The State Library's Automation and Technology Division submitted two grant applications to federal funding agencies during FY99 - one to the Library of Congress and one to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The Library of Congress application requested funding to digitize the Illinois Coal Reports. The IMLS application requested funding for establishing and administering a statewide virtual library comprised of significant government documents. Promoting improved literacy skills for Illinois citizens Community Literacy Grants: The community/volunteer literacy program provided grants for direct service to adults reading below the 9th grade level, including those for whom English is a second language and those in correctional settings. Grants totalling $4.8 million were awarded to 104 community-based literacy organizations statewide. Year end statistics show that 29,912 students were served by 140,006 volunteers during FY99. In an additional grant offering, 29 community agencies received $16,000 in TechChecks for computer software to use with literacy students. To promote and reward highly effective literacy programs $120,000 in performance grants were distributed to 55 programs. Community Provider Staff Development: Grantees and potential applicants were provided technical and consulting assistance at:
• three regional fall conferences; Family Literacy Grants: The Family Literacy Grant Program provided cooperative grants to libraries, literacy programs and child-at-risk agencies to enable parents and children to learn to read, use the library together and enrich education for each other. A total of $1,303,709 funded 43 family literacy projects involving more than 3,000 adults and children. The most effective projects were awarded additional grants of approximately $1000 each to expand and improve existing family literacy services. Penny Severns Early Childhood Programs: In honor of the late Senator Penny Severns of Decatur, a special appropriation by the General Assembly was granted to the Illinois State Library to provide $250,000 to fund summer education programs for low literate families. Of the 150 applications received, 65 grants were awarded. Schools and Families Together Grants: Five pilot projects were funded to introduce family literacy programming to low literate parents and to teachers and children in school settings. These projects allowed parents to attend literacy classes at their children's schools while the teachers implemented parent-child together programming. Workplace Skills Enhancement Grants: Seventy-six businesses were awarded a total of $672,000. Businesses match these grants with more than 1.4 million. Collectively, the grant recipients assessed and/or instructed 2,251 current employees in reading, writing, math and or communications skills. Making Work Pay Grants: This welfare-to-work initiative was developed and piloted by FY99. Twelve businesses were awarded a total of $253,000. The businesses were required to obtain welfare client referrals through a Department of Human Services referral agency and partner with educational providers to develop and deliver relevant training to clients to assist them in successful employment. Eligible activities included employability, basic and technical skills training. Businesses were required to match public funds by 50 percent and employ the clients for a 12-week period. New Chapters Program: Fifteen sites were awarded a total of $299,686 to provide literacy services onsite at domestic violence shelters. In addition to the grants, a children's library of more than 300 books, a computer and 10 pieces of commercial CD-ROM software were distributed to all grantees. A CD-ROM was designed for adult low-level readers interested in gaining the skills needed to find and keep a job. The CD-ROM was distributed to all public libraries. New Chapters grantees, community and family literacy programs and members of the Illinois Coalition against Domestic Violence. A curriculum CD-ROM also was developed to teach modules in basic reading, math and job skills to clients in domestic violence shelters. Technology for Family Literacy: CD-ROM grants were awarded to 200 libraries, literacy agencies and child agencies. Grant recipients received 10 instructional CD-ROM software packages for use by families and an instructional manual for students to use with the CD-ROMS. Literacy Office staff trained first-year recipients to use the technology for parent/child activities. 206 Web Site Features: Highlights of the May 1999 Spotlight on Achievement and Spotlight on Service awards and information about the winners were added to the Web site at www.library.sos.state.il.us/isl/programs.html. Two discussion boards also are available on the web site: a forum for community and family grantees to exchange ideas on STAIRS, the required statistical reporting system; and a forum for Making Work Pay recipients to exchange ideas and pose questions. Promoting networking and Technology
Telecommunications Discounts: Funding commitment announcements by the federal Schools and Libraries Division of the Universal Service Administrative Company were completed in late February 1999 for the first year of E-rate discounts. Illinois libraries and library consortia received 303 commitment letters, with $2,139,279 awarded. The amount received by each library or consortia under the funding commitment letters varied from $80 to $253,583. ILLINET Network Advisory Council: The State Library's newly formed ILLINET Advisory Council held its initial meeting in September 1998. Fifteen leaders from the library and education communities serve on the board. The council's mission is to address resource sharing in Illinois and ILLLINET libraries. The board promotes resources sharing, serves as a communication link between library and education interests, provides a forum for information exchange and advises the State Library about resources sharing issues. OCLC: Illinois library networking was featured in OCLC's FY98 annual report. The four-page article highlighted the development of the Illinois' integrated statewide catalog, using OCLC SiteSearch software. Division of Library Automation and Technology: Effective June 1, 1999, a new division of the State Library became responsible for the library's Digital Imaging Program, the Government Information Locator Service project, related automation projects and in-house automation coordination. Division staff members worked extensively to address the State Library Y2K issues. Digital Imaging Program (DIP): DIP began in FY99 as an effort to convert deteriorating State of Illinois documents to digital form. Electronic files will be available on the Web at the virtual library site, "Find-It! Illinois." State Library staff researched and issued a draft of "Best Practices for Digital Imaging." Library Automation and Technology staff attended the Cornell and Chicago Schools for Scanning. The program acquired high-end imaging equipment, including servers, scanners and printers. Cooperative Online Resource Catalog Project (CORC): In January 1999, the Illinois State Library was accepted into the Cooperative Online Resource Catalog project. CORC is an OCLC prototype aimed at promoting the cooperative creation of Web resource descriptions. Currently, the CORC database includes nearly 200,000 descriptive records covering resources from all over the world. Illinois Government Information Locator Service (GILS): In May 1999, the Illinois State Library began a partnership project with the Washington, Oregon, New Mexico and New Hampshire state libraries, funded by a National Leadership Grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services. This grant provided Washington State Library with funds for a one-year project to demonstrate the effectiveness of a Government Information Locator Service tool. The purpose of the project is to provide citizens with access to government information. The State Library's implementation of the GILS project will result in the virtual library Web site "Find It! Illinois." Virtual Illinois Catalog (VIC): The Virtual Illinois 207 Catalog became available to Illinois libraries at http://vic.lib.il.us/. Through one easy search of the Internet, OCLC WebZ software provides access to the holdings of hundreds of Illinois libraries. More than 40 million items are available in the 12 library system's databases. Isl-announce: Internet users can now subscribe to postings from the State Library through isl-announce, an e-mail announcement mailing list for the Illinois library community on information about grants, programs and meetings. Additional lists on special topics also are available. Vendor Fairs: The Illinois State Library and NILRC sponsored the second annual Illinois Information Service Vendor Fairs in Springfield and at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn in March 1999. The fair featured presentations by 10 vendors. More than 100 libraries attended one or both of the sessions and had the opportunity to meet with vendors. Atkinson Symposium: The State Library hosted the sixth annual Atkinson Symposium in November 1998 at the University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign. Robert Hiebeler, co-author of Best Practices, Building Your Business with Customer-Focused Solutions, was the keynote speaker and declared "the profession of the year 2000 is the librarian." He led the group of 30 academic, public school and special librarians through discussions on how to harvest some of the "best practices" of various companies, including transferring these concepts to nonprofit organizations. Promising Partnerships Program: The State Library sponsored the "Promising Partnerships" program at the Illinois Library Association conference in October 1998 in Chicago. Diane Frankel, director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services in Washington. D.C., talked about institute programs that help libraries use new technologies, preserve and share information resources across state boundaries and find common goals and partnerships with museums. A panel discussion followed on how museums and libraries can cooperate. Gates Foundation Initiative: In April 1999, an application for funding was submitted to the Gates Foundation by the State Library. The application outlined Illinois public library computing needs, telecommunications infrastructure, training capabilities, state funding for technology, partnerships and statistical data about technology available in each public library. The Public Leadership Coalition, appointed by State Library Director Jean Wilkins, assisted with the application. The Gates Library Initiative is dedicated to partnering with State Library agencies and public libraries to bring access to computers, the Internet and digital information for patrons in low-income communities. Expanded access for state government officials and employees Public Services Summary: The Illinois State Library Public Services statistical summary for FY99 includes the following transactions:
Patent and Trademark Library: During FY99, the Patent and Trademark Depository Library researchers were awarded 18 patents. Maps: The State Library map collection increased by 3,500 maps during FY99. Other additions included the 1998 Illinois aerial photographs, photocopies of early 20th century land ownership maps from the Library of Congress and 19th-century land ownership maps from the British Library. The department received free ArcView software and data from ESRI through their schools and libraries program. ISL Teach-Ins: During Kids Online Week in September 1998, state employees were invited to two "Teach-Ins" provided by the State Library to help parents navigate the Web and guide their children to appropriate internet sites. These workshops were provided in conjunction with the American Library Association's "America Links Up" program. Budget - See next page 208 ILLINOIS STATE LIBRARY BUDGET FY99 STATE GRANTS: FY99
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