ICONnection NewsCorner: Stories from ICON Libraries

Jim Bothmer was a mentor for 3rd annual Nebraska Leadership Institute July 25-29, at St. Benedict Retreat Center, Schuyler, NE. Aimed at Nebraska's current and future library leaders, participants learned skills to assess their own strengths and weaknesses, as well as those of their environment, and how to create vision statements and action plans. Institute was sponsored by Nebraska Regional Library Systems, and funded by Nebraska Library Commission, infoUSA, & Beringer Cicaccio Dennell Mabrey, Inc.

Nebraska/Missouri (NEMO) MLS students will sponsor 2^nd annual Paws for a Cause Fundraiser for NLA’s Nixon Scholarship at NLA/NEMA fall conference. Ten cats will participate in open show with four prize categories: 1. Best read 2. Best dressed 3. Cutest 4. Over all best in show (most votes in all areas). Feline portraits may be viewed at NEMO/Lib Sci Educ table in the non-profit area at conference. Votes can be cast until Friday noon with $1, $5, $10 bills attached. Best in show receives a traveling trophy. Submit your cat’s portrait. Only ten cats will be selected. Submit prints to Robin Brooks, 1630 North 62^nd St, Topeka, KS 66618, or digital photos to nlacats@yahoo.com. Pictures not returned.

Valerie Conzett notified us that Children’s Hospital Family Resource Library, now a FR Center, has merged these non-clinical services: Community Education, Guest Services, Kids Keep Up, Pastoral & Spiritual Care, Rainbow House, & Resource Library. Nearly 4,500 books have been distributed so far in 2005 to children & families through Book Cart Buddies program, which encourages literacy while reducing stress. Entirely donor driven & volunteer supported, program supplies books to take home when child or family leaves the hospital. 3rd Annual Nathan Ashford Conference, entitled “The Science Behind Neonatal Care: Implications for Families and Caregivers” is happening in September with Dr. Stanley Graven presenting. Bedside Buddies Program will be one of featured presentations. Offered through Family Resource Center, this program provides specialized book cart to NICU families. Both medically relevant books & recreational reading materials for parents & babies are taken bedside to bedside encouraging developmentally appropriate family reading time.

As of August 26th, Kenny Oyer has a new home address, 927 N. 74th St., 68114. Phone remains 331-8843. Open house pending.

Are your library programs & services responding to people struggling with homelessness and poverty?

Contact Kathy Tooker to find out more about the following Sept 28, NLA/NEMA Preconference: Bridges Out Of Poverty: Strategies for Professionals and Communities.

Sue Raymond, Center for Biopreparedness Education, invites you to 'get to know' the Center library's collection. Access holdings by going to McGoogan online catalog - enter under AUTHOR, "Center for Biopreparedness Education.” Center's collection includes books, videos, & CDs - all available via ILL. Another service is access to Public Health Foundations' TrainingFinder.org collection of web-based learning opportunities via Nebraska TRAIN, at http://ne.train.org. By accessing courses via Ne.TRAIN, users can track their learning using Learning Management system (LMS) that Nebraska participates in - your CDC grant funds at work!  If you visit the Center's web site at http://bioprepare.org, please help promote the activities of the Center, encourage participation in Ne.TRAIN, and take advantage of these learning opportunities. Contact Sue at 402-552-3091, or sraymond@unmc.edu

Sheryl Williams shares: My son, Cpt. Patrick Williams, US Army, this week returned for a second tour of duty in Iraq. He is with the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry; they are often referred to as the "Stryker Battalion." After 2-4 weeks in Kuwait, they will be stationed in Mosul. Patrick is a Physicians Assistant. His wife and family remain in Alaska, which is their permanent home; I was fortunate to visit them this past April. It's going to be a long year.”