Kansas Regional Library Systems

The Statewide Performer Directory is undergoing its first annual overhaul. All performers currently listed have been contacted and must respond by the end of the year in order to remain in the directory.  Changes in contact information, program offerings, or fees must be reported using the online submission form.  If no changes are needed, this should be confirmed in an email to Teri Nelson at NEKLS [tnelson@nekls.org]. Performers who do not respond to the update request will be dropped from the directory January 1, 2010.

This is also a great time for systems personnel to add new performers from across the state. If you know of any fresh talent who might like to be included in the directory, encourage them to use the online submission form which will be processed by NEKLS. Or, if you prefer, you can gather the required information and enter it yourself.  Clear instructions are available at the link below. (The first listing is the hardest. After that, it’s smooth sailing!)

How to add performers to the Statewide Performer Directory

Welcome to the booth, come and get your picture taken and a READ poster made!

Learn the ins and outs of photo editing.

We are happy to have you visit the Kansas Regional Systems Booth at the KLA/MPLA Conference.  We are demonstrating our website and teaching folks how to create their own READ posters.

SEKnFind is the name given to the Southeast Kansas Library System’s regional automation consortium using Koha open source software.

The first 4 libraries went live on SEKnFind on Nov. 4, 2008. Currently there are 9 libraries using SEKnFind: Bronson Public Library, Chanute Public Library, Coffeyville Public Library, Hamilton City Library, Independence Public Library, Iola Public Library, Madison Public Library, Parker/Linn County Library District #1, and Savonburg Public Library. Two additional libraries, Howard City Library and Galena Public Library, are undergoing retrospective conversion and should begin using SEKnFind for circulation by the fall of 2009. SEKLS expects to expand the SEKnFind consortium annually.

Libraries on SEKnFind share a common database, and holds placed on materials may be filled by any member of the consortium. The project has greatly aided resource sharing among members, and the SEKnFind catalog is part of the virtual Kansas Library Catalog as well.

The SEKnFind project has been funded in part by an LSTA grant from the State Library of Kansas.

Visit the SEKnFind catalog at seknfind.kohalibrary.com

My Kansas Library on the Web was featured in an article in Computers in Libraries this month.

Read it!

Liz Rea and I worked on the article at the prompting of Brenda Hough.  It is very exciting for us to be featured in a national library magazine!

The Rolla Library (SWKLS) and Corning City Library (NEKLS) were highlighted.

-Sharon Moreland, Tech Consultant, NEKLS

This web site is a work in progress.  As you explore, please post comments about the information you would like to find on this site.  You can also send this information via e-mail to Laura DeBaun, Library Services Consultant for the Northeast Kansas Library System, at ldebaun@nekls.org

At SEKLS Annual In-Service at Westminster Woods, Chris Rippel of Central Kansas Library System explained how patrons follow the path of least resistance when they use the library. The phenomena is so well known it has a name: The Principle of Least Effort. Patrons check out the books closest to the entrance; they check out books that are in the mid-range on the shelves (the ones that can be easily seen and that do not require stretching or bending to reach.) They don’t go any further into the library than they must to reach the materials they want.

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