Just a reminder that step two of the minimum wage increase goes into effect on July 24. As of that date, minimum wage will be $6.55. All library employees are entitled to that minimum regardless of how many hours they work per week. It is a Federal requirement that all libraries pay the Federal minimum wage.

As you work on your budgets for 2009, remember that the third phase of the increase will go into effect in July of 2009, so you will need to budget for your minimum wage employees to receive $7.25 after that date.

For more information go to the Department of Labor website at http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/flsa/

Kan-ed, Kansas State Library and the Regents Library Database Consortium Bring Databases to Kansas Schools, Libraries, Homes, and Hospitals
(TOPEKA) – Kan-ed, a statewide information network administered by the Board of Regents, will provide academic, reference, and research database access for Kansas schools, libraries, homes and hospitals for another year.
The State Library of Kansas, a Kan-ed consortium member, negotiated the terms of the purchase with the database publishers. The databases will be available, free of charge, to anyone in Kansas using a computer with a Kansas IP through Quova IP authentication, to any user of the Kan-ed Empowered Desktop, or Kansan who has a Kansas State Library Card. The databases will be available beginning in August and will include:
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Worldbook Encyclopedia;
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Worldbook Advanced;
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ProQuest Nursing Journals;
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Heritage Quest;
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WorldCat;
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The Gale/Cengage package which includes Academic OneFile, General OneFile, Literature Resource Center, Chilton’s Auto Repair, Health & Wellness Resource Center, Alternative Health Module, Business & Company Resource Center and Profiles ASAP, Customer Newspapers, Gale Virtual Reference Library, Military & Intelligence, Nursing & Allied Health, Legal Trac, Religion & Philosophy, Professional Collection, Computer Database, and Informé; and
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The Ebsco package which includes Novelist, Ultra Online Package (UOP), Middle Online Package (MOP), Primary Online Package (POP) and includes K-12 specific products such as; Encyclopedia of Animals, ERIC, Health Source: Consumer Edition, MAS Ultra School Edition, Middle Search Plus, Newspaper Source, Primary Search, Professional Development Collection, and TOPICsearch.
“We are excited to provide these tools to Kansans in every corner of the state,” said Brad Williams, Executive Director of Kan-ed. “The continued inclusion of these databases to the Kan-ed network, and through a variety of other internet access points, supports our continuing efforts to offer the best internet applications and utilities to Kansas schools, libraries, and hospitals. We are especially grateful to the State Library of Kansas, the Regents Library Database Consortium, the Johnson County Library System, and the Topeka & Shawnee County Library. With the partnership efforts and successes of these consortium members, the Kansas digital revolution continues full-speed ahead.”

BEAT BOREDOM WITH KIDS.GOV

The kids are home and cooped up in the house. Think you’re going to lose it? Don’t let the “I’m bored!” whine get the best of you and your family. Kids.gov provides a fun and educational outlet for hours of indoor amusement.

With trustworthy links to over 1,300 web pages, Kids.gov is the official kids’ site from the U.S. government—so you know it’s safe. Children from kindergarten through eighth grade can play games, go back in history, sail the seven seas, get homework help, and much more.

Do your kids dream of being astronauts? Let them explore space with Kids.gov’s NASA links. Do you have a budding Picasso on your hands? Kids.gov links to educational coloring books and Smithsonian art pages. Need information on your home state for a report? Kids.gov will get your child to the appropriate page for all information he or she needs.

Separated into two sections, Grades K-5 and 6-8, Kids.gov is easy to navigate. Kids can quickly find the information and activities geared to their grade level. Are you an educator? Kids.gov has a section specifically for you. Find lesson plans, group activities, and official resources for all your classroom needs. Check out the “What’s New?” column on the homepage for all the latest additions and improvements to Kids.gov.

Let Ben Franklin guide your child through the different branches of government. Read the diary of a day in the life of a Park Ranger. Get ideas for a science fair project. All this and more is just a click away, at Kids.gov.

Loaded with great tips, facts, projects, games, and exercises, there is always something new and exciting on Kids.gov. Consider it your escape route when the kids are inside and restless. Be warned: it may be hard to pry them away once it’s bedtime.