Washington, DC - The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announces open registration for the eighth annual WebWise Conference on Libraries and Museums in the Digital World, to be held February 28 to March 2, 2007, at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The conference is sponsored annually by IMLS and is co-hosted again this year by the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) and the J.

With winter holidays just around the corner, the ALA Public Programs Office would like to remind you to set aside time to apply for the newest We the People Bookshelf on the Pursuit of Happiness. Online applications are due by JANUARY 31, 2007.

American Printing House for the Blind, Inc. (APH) with support from the U.S. Department of Education has established the National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC). Authorized users can search the NIMAC database and download the files they need to convert to accessible instructional materials for students with qualifying disabilities.

Guynell Williams is the recipient of the South Carolina Library Association’s (SCLA) 2006 Outstanding Librarian Award.  The award honors a librarian who has initiated or developed an imaginative or creative program, service, or work of enduring value for the effective use of or increased interest in libraries or a particular library.

Listen to author Joyce Hansen read an excerpt from her book, One True Friend (Time: 13 minutes 30 seconds; mp3 version requires Windows Media Player, iTunes or QuickTime).

Access to information technology creates opportunity for all, especially persons with disabilities, Secretary-General says in observance of Disabled Persons Day

The following is UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's message on the International Day of Disabled Persons, observed on 3 December:

The theme of this year's observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons, "E-accessibility”, reminds us of the need to make the Internet available to everyone.

Building upon past support that has included over $240 million in grants, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) launched, in November 2005, Museums and Libraries Engaging America’s Youth initiative.  It focuses primarily on young people aged 9 – 19 and is analyzing past Institute grant-making initiatives, examining what works and developing case studies to explore best practices. 

South Carolina students can test their creative skills with two upcoming contests sponsored by the South Carolina Center for the Book: Letters About Literature and River of Words.

Students have one more month to pen their notes for the Letters About Literature competition. The national contest is open to students in grades four through 12, and submissions are being accepted until Dec. 8.

State employees, staff members at other libraries, and the general public can now contact the Information Desk at the State Library using Instant Messaging (IM). The library’s username is scslreference, on both AIM and Yahoo Messenger.

Contributed by Mary Morgan

State Library patrons can let their fingers do the talking when it comes to asking questions, requesting books or renewing checked out materials.