SJRLC Connections

Yeah, I hear you! (A listening skills workshop)

  The South Jersey Regional Library Cooperative presents:

Improved Communication and Customer Service  through better listening

Led by Frank Felsburg, Cogent Training & Consulting LLC

WHEN: Thursday, January 24, 2008, 9:30 - 4:30 (9:00 coffee)
WHERE:  Cherry Hill Free Public Library,  1100 Kings Highway N., Cherry Hill
Directions: www.sjrlc.org/directions/chpl
Cost: $40 (Lunch Included)
REGISTRATION AND DETAILS: http://www.sjrlc.org/spice/2007_12/listening.pdf

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Listening is the key to effectiveness!

"After more than forty years in business, I've concluded that listening is the single most important on-the-job skill that can [be] cultivated."  - J.W.Marriott, Jr

Would you like to:

• Save time and energy by avoiding miscommunications?
• Work better with your colleagues?
• Offer better customer (and reference) service?

Then this workshop is for you!  This workshop will address the way we communicate and how we can do so more successfully.  You will learn about your personal listening style, and how to listen more effectively by incorporating other listening styles and skills.

By the end of this workshop you will be able to:   Communicate more effectively by understanding your preferred listening style as well as the styles of others.

"I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant." -Robert McCloskey


-- Earn 6 Professional Development Hours for attending this program ---

Details and Registration at: http://www.sjrlc.org/spice/2007_12/listening.pdf

Congrats to the Pennsville Public Library

Congrats to the Pennsville Library on their 70th anniversary-- and more! 

Adapted from their press release:

On October 10, 2007 the Pennsville library celebrated:

• the 70th anniversary of the Library opening on the 2nd floor of old Town Hall in 1937
• a 50th anniversary of the library being dedicated by the Rotary Club at Broadway & Union Streets in 1957
• Marie Mabel Scott’s generous donation to the library upon her death which enabled us to purchase our new digital sign
• the memorial to Gladys Viele by her son Orrin J. Viele which purchased our new patron cards, and...
• the start-up of a state of the art circulation system allowing Pennsville Public Library to become part of an integrated library system with Cumberland County Library.

By banding together to form a consortium, Salem County Libraries have the opportunity to allow users to view resources belonging to all participating Salem County Libraries. On-line catalog access from remote sites will now be possible for library card holders. 

The project was made possible by the Cumberland County Library allowing Salem County Libraries access to their main server at a yearly connection fee provided by the Salem County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Initial connection and equipment costs were supplied by the Pennsville Township Committee and Friends of the Library as well as generous patron donations.

These accomplishments would not be possible without the leadership of a highly functional Board of Trustees working as a team. Our Board understands their role and they do what is necessary to ensure that library services meet the needs of our community.

IMPORTANT LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

TO: NJLA LISTSERV MEMBERS FROM: PAT TUMULTY, NJLA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RE; LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT

On Monday, Nov. 19 two bills are scheduled to be heard in the Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee. If you are represented by any of the legislators listed below please contact them immediately with the NJLA position on these bills. If you are not represented by any of this individuals there is not much you can do at this moment.

If you are represented by Assemblyman Moriarty (District 4) phone 856-232-6700 or any of the co-sponsors of this legislation we would also want you to call and express your opposition. Your position is that you have not had any ability to have input on this bill and it is very important to you.

Co-sponsors of A4423 are Assemblyman David Mayer, also District 4 phone 856-227-5900;Assemblyman Robert Gordon (District 38) phone 201-703-9779; Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula (District 17) phone 732-247-3999; and Assemblyman Douglas Fisher (District 3) phone 856-455-1011.

If you are represented by Assemblywoman Greenstein (District 14) or Assemblyman David Russo (District 40) please call and thank them for there support by sponsoring A4453. We support A4453.

If you can attend the hearing on Monday please let me know immediately. This is extremely important. I will check my emails over the weekend.

The committee members are listed below:

Members of the Housing and Local Government Committee Jerry Green Chair (District 22) Represents: Clark Twp.; Dunellen Borough; Fanwood Borough; Linden City, Middlesex Borough, North Plainfield Borough; Plainfield; Rahway City, Scotch Plains Twp.) Phone number: 908-561-5757 fax: 908-561-5547

Frederick Scalera (Vice-Chair) District 36 ( Carlstadt, East Rutherford; Garfield City; Lyndhurst; North Arlington; Nutley; Passaic; Rutherford; Wallington and Wood Ridge. Phone: 973-667-4431; fax; 973-667-9478

Nilsa Cruz-Perez District 5 (Audubon, Bellmawr, Camden City, Deptford Twp., Gloucester City, Haddon Heights, Magnolia, Runnemede, Stratford, Westville Woodbury. Phone 856-541-1251; Fax 856-541-3415

Craig Stanley (District 28 ( Belleville, Bloomfield, Irvington and part of Newark) Phone : 973-399-1000; fax: 973-399-3358

Alison Littell McHose 24 ( Newton and Sussex county) Phone 973-726-0954; Fax 973-584-2977

Charlotte Vandervalk 39 (Allendale, Closter, Cresskill, Demarest, Dumont, Emerson, Harrington Park, Haworth, Hillsdale, Hohokus, Montvale, New Milford, Northvale, Norwood, Old Tappan, Oradell, Park Ridge, Ramsey River Edge, River Vale, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, Washington Twp, Westwood.

Phone 201-666-0881 and Fax 201-666-5255

We have faxed letters to these legislators indicating our positions on these bills. Our positions are as follows:

We have asked Assemblyman Moriarty to withdraw A4423 from the agenda. This legislation was formally introduced on Nov. 8 (less than two weeks ago.) It is an extremely important topic to the library community. It deserves widespread discussion and deliberate consideration on a statewide basis from our Association to make constructive comments or take a definitive position on this legislation.

This is not a time-sensitive piece of legislation which must be enacted before the end of this legislative session. There is time for informed debate among interested parties to reach a consensus on this issue.

Obviously, the Assemblyman can reintroduce this legislation in the next session of the legislature. This will give the library community time to discuss the proposal in a thoughtful and comprehensive manner. If the bill is heard on Monday, our Association will oppose it because we have not had the opportunity to study it carefully and its implications for library service throughout New Jersey.

Another bill scheduled for discussion is A4453 by Assemblywoman Greenstein and Assemblyman Russo to remove municipal libraries from the 4% cap levy. We completely support this legislation. Our Association joined with the NJ League of Municipalities is trying to have municipal libraries removed from the cap levy during the budget discussions in June. We believe this legislation is in support of those actions.

Municipal public libraries have been established by referendum of the people. This is the same process as open space legislation. Funding for open space legislation, however, is outside the cap while funding for municipal public libraries is now in the cap. This creates an undo burden on the 245 municipalities where the public has voted to maintain a municipal public library.

It is imperative that this legislation be enacted as quickly as possible since municipalities are now starting their budget preparations for the next fiscal year. There was also an editorial in the Home News Tribune supporting removing libraries from the cap.

Thank you for your consideration in these critical matters.

NJLA MEMBERS- CALL OR FAX IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES

One Book New Jersey Selections

From Kate Vasilik, Chair, One Book New Jersey 2008
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Start brainstorming for ways to use this year's One Book New Jersey titles in your library!

The Readers Advisory Roundtable and the 2008 One Book New Jersey committee are proud to announce the selections of each category:

• Read to Me: Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock by Eric A. Kimmel
• Middle Grade: The Sisters Grimm: Fairy-Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley
• Teen: Dr. Franklin's Island by Ann Halam
• Adult: The Plot Against America by Philip Roth

More news from OBNJ will be announced over the next couple of months, including raffle information and details of a statewide launch in February 2008.  In the meantime, start thinking of great ways to program and promote these titles at your libraries this year!

Kate Vasilik
Chair, One Book New Jersey 2008

One Book NJ is presented by the New Jersey Library Association in collaboration with and funded by the New Jersey State Library which is responsible for the coordination, promotion and funding of the New Jersey Library Network.