CONTENTS

• Invest in your child's future - Raise a Reader
• Act Now! Rate Increases in Telephone Services
• SLA/SLTA Annual Conference May 2000
• Fall Board Meeting Report
• Annual Board Meeting Notice
• Public Libries Act - Get Your Copy
• Chinook Regional Library in Pilot Project
• Summer Reading Program 2000 - Rock'nRoll'nRead
• Wanted - Photo's of your Library Events
• Chinook Regional Library Quick Facts
• Flashbacks - 25; 20; 15; 10; 5 Years

Since 1971, there has been a ten percent increase in the number of jobs requiring high literacy skills and a ten percent decrease in the number of jobs requiring limited literacy skills. As a result, today's children who have low literacy skills will be more likely to become unemployed adults. Also, children who are literate may not remain that way. According to the 1995 International Adult Literacy Survey by OECD and Statistics Canada, adults who do not read at home or at work may lose their literacy skills. So how can parents make sure that their children have the lifetime patterns of reading necessary for success in today's world? The answer is simple, read to your child. According to studies in Home to School: How Canadian Children Cope (1999) by Statistics Canada, parents should read to their children because "Children whose caregivers have read to them regularly do better when they go to school than children who have not had the same experience. In fact, the more often children are read to in a day, the better they do at school."

Kathy Collins reads to a large group of kids and adults during Kids Corner at the Shaunavon Public Library.  Photo courtesy of the Shaunavon Standard

Also, start reading to your child right away, for studies have also shown that early exposure to books fosters lifetime patterns of reading. Your child's enthusiasm for books can be further kindled by encouraging them to borrow books from your local library to read at home. You can also use your library staff to get help in finding books that might be of special interest to your child to read. If your library offers a Story hour then make sure to register your child, as these programs are designed to acquaint young children with the joy of reading and the library's resources.

These storytimes will help your child:

• Discover that books and reading are fun
• Develop a larger vocabulary
• Gain increased listening skills
• Learn to participate as a group member

The CRTC decision on providing service to the typically high cost rural and remote areas, requires that telephone companies provide basic service, including Internet access, 9-1-1 emergency service, private lines and phone books, to all customers.

However, in order to make these changes the CRTC says that the telephone companies will have to come up with the money they receive from long-distance carriers, creating efficiencies in their operation and even local rate increases. This would mean that rural users could bear the burden of these expenses, as there are currently no subsidies included to lighten the financial burden on rural and remote users.

How does this affect you?

• Everyone, except those in Regina and Saskatoon, are considered rural users. This means that not only those on the farm, but people living in Swift Current may bear the expenses of rate increases!
• Your basic phone services and Internet services may increase substantially in price!
• Libraries providing Faxing and Internet services to the public may not be able to afford continuing these services!

The keynote address will be "Politics and Prospects: Surviving the 21st Century" presented by William Birdsall. Mr. Birdsall will be discussing the current status of more traditional library services and the values that drive them, including the impact that political, social and economic trends and change have upon them. The address will also present options for associated challenges to both libraries and citizenry in general. William Birdsall is the Executive Director of NOVANET, a consortium of Nova Scotia academic libraries. He has published articles on the politics of librarianship, professionalism, information technology, tele-communications and public policy.

A variety of interesting sessions will be available over the three-day conference. Some highlights are a panel to speak on collections; a discussion on filtering; practical and proven fundraising methods, especially for smaller libraries; and web awareness. Following the success of Arlene Jorgenson's presentations last year, another motivational speaker, Mickey MacLellan, will be available this year. The popular Saskatchewan Book Awards Silent Auction will also be back!

All sessions will be held either in the Temple Gardens Mineral Spa and Resort Hotel (Spa) or Moose Jaw Public Library (MJPL).  The Keynote Speaker and the Mary Donaldson Memorial Lecture will take place at the Zion United Church, and the Banquet will be at the Heritage Inn. The Exhibits will be located in the Spa.

The Early Bird conference fees are $100.00 for SLA/SLTA members and $145.00 for non-members, and are refundable (less $25.00) in case of emergency cancellation. Early Bird Registration must be postmarked before March 31, 2000.

To register for the conference online visit the SLA's registration site at www.lib.sk.ca/sla/ registration.htm.
 

Technology Grant Program Report
Michael Keaschuk reported that as a result of the two 29-week Youth Employment positions and the one 17-week position, Chinook Regional Library was able to add a total of 22 new computers and 21 printers installed in addition to five used computers from Headquarters being installed at some of the branches. As a result, there are now 31 branch libraries and 2 Corner Libraries with computers. 

In 1999, Herbert and Gravelbourg were set up as automated branches using Dynix software for circulation. Headquarters replaced its 56K line for Internet service with a high-speed line with the assistance of a one-time grant from Provincial Library to make the change. A web-site was developed and is accessible through the City of Swift Current’s web server. Executive Committee Report Highlights The bookkeeping system for the region will be changing in the near future.In an effort to move towards standardizing the accounting practices for all library systems, Public Sector Accounting and Auditing Board rules have been accepted.

Gravelbourg Librarian, Barb Douglass, checks out books to patrons using the library's new automated circulation system. Photo courtesy of the Gravelbourg Tribune

Ms. Campbell also reported on the CRTC decision to no longer allow subsidies of telecommunication lines to rural areas. Many organizations will be presenting briefs to the Minister to appeal this decision. She urged individuals, organizations and municipalities to write the Minister expressing how the decision will affect them or their community.

Saskatchewan Library Trustees’ Association
Dorothy Saunderson announced that the Annual Conference would be held in Moose Jaw May 4-6, 2000. SLTA will provide up to 6 trustees who are first-time attendees at the Conference with $100.00 to cover registration.

Free Internet Service
Michael Keaschuk addressed the motion brought forth at the SARM Convention regarding charging for Internet Service. He explained that the agreement between Industry Canada and the Libraries allowed for free public access in return for free computers and printers.

CRTC Telecommunications Subsidy
Michael Keaschuk and Audrey Mark have been working on designing a postcard asking for the decision of the CRTC to be appealed.

2000 Budget
The 2000 Operating Budget was approved as presented.

The Public Libraries act of 1996 is now available On-line at the Province-wide Library Electronic Information System web site. To access the Act, visit www.qp.justice.gov.sk.ca /orphan/legislation/ p39-2.htm. The document is an "Act to provide for the Establishment, Development, and Maintenance of Public Libraries".

Chinook Regional Library will be participating in connection with the Provincial Library in a Pilot Project to provide Chinook Regional Library's patrons home access to its InfoTrac Databases. Currently, the databases are only available through Branch Library computers.

Michael Keaschuk (Chinook Regional Library Director), Aidan Meegan (Swift Current Branch Chief Librarian) and Bob
Ivancho (Provincial Library Database Licenser) have met to discuss the pilot project. The group is looking into providing
additional training for library staff and the creation of a brochure for the public to explain and advertise the databases.
Patrons will be able to access the databases on the Internet using their library card to gain admission.

InfoTrac Searchbank allows patrons to search electronic databases of over 2300 full text magazines, journals and reference sources. Databases include Expanded Academic ASAP, Business Index ASAP, General Reference Centre (Magazine Index), and the Health Reference Center. Through home access to these databases, Chinook Regional Library Patrons will be able to retrieve information on everything from eggnog recipes to Health information.
 

AGE GROUP: The targeted age group for the Summer Reading Program is children age 6 and older. The program targets these groups to ensure that students keep up their reading skills during the summer months.

THEME FOR 2000: Rock 'n' Roll 'n' Read

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS: There will be posters, bookmarks and other materials available for all branch libraries willing to be involved in the Summer Reading Program.

PONSORSHIP: The Summer Reading Program is a joint project of public libraries, the Saskatchewan Library Association, and the Provincial Library. Local libraries work with many other organizations in their communities to put on the program. Some of these organizations include schools, recreation programs, Credit Unions, businesses, Chambers of Commerce, the RCMP, fire departments, hospitals, and cultural societies. The major sponsors of the Summer Reading Program are the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspapers Association and the Credit Unions of Saskatchewan.
 

TIP FOR THIS YEAR’S PROGRAM: Since the Credit Unions of Saskatchewan are large sponsors of the Summer Reading Program, libraries should ensure that their local Credit Union are informed of any events related to the Summer Reading Program. In 1999 many Credit Unions expressed their desire for their local library’s program listings of local Summer Reading Program Events. Promotional activity ideas and various materials will be sent out by the Branch Supervisor to all branch libraries. Also, make sure to keep an eye on the Saskatchewan Library Association Page for they will be posting further information at http://www.lib.sk.ca/sla/.

• Has 14,263 Borrowers Registered Electronically.
• Has provided public library service to Southwest Saskatchewan since June 1, 1971.
• Is made up of a network of 35 Branch libraries and 15 Corner libraries.
• Covers an area of 49,949 sq. km. (19,286 sq. miles) and serves a population of 51,177.
• Has a collection consisting of 142,513 books and over 14,330 new paperbacks were purchased in 1999. In addition, 121 audio books and 479 VHS cassettes are available for loan at the Swift Current Branch.
• Is a full member of the Saskatchewan Multi-type Library System. As such, it freely lends its books to other multi-type partners and patrons, and receives free loans in return from those partners. Access to these other collections effectively increases the number of items available to our patrons to over three million (3,000,000).

July 1975:
 

July 31, 1975: 

June 6, 1985: 

The first annual book sale of the Chinook Regional Library’s discards is held.

June 9, 1990:

The Herbert Library Board held an Auction that raised $1,146.00. Berg & Toews Auction Service donated their services the proceeds were to go to the pending new library facility, and a contribution to Regional Library general funds