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Table of Contents
1. List of libraries eligible for Gates grant being finalized
2. Lieutenant Governor recommends use of public libraries and BadgerLink to help save money
3. Wisconsin Department of Revenue plans changes in tax forms, assistance, and electronic filing
4. Public libraries often help in emergency situations
5. Website of the Week – Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
6. Calendar
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LIST OF LIBRARIES ELIGIBLE FOR GATES GRANT BEING FINALIZED
The September 25 issue of Channel Weekly
(http://dpi.wi.gov/channel/chwk1103.html) had an article on Wisconsin being part of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's "Opportunity Online" hardware grant program. Next week the Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning (DLTCL) will post on the Web a list of the public libraries eligible to apply for PCs through this grant program. The list, along with other information on the program, will be available at http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/gatespcgrant.html. If you have any questions, review the September 25 Channel Weekly article or contact Bob Bocher, DLTCL Technology Consultant, at 608-266-2127, robert.bocher@dpi.wi.gov.
2. LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR RECOMMENDS USE OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND BADGERLINK TO HELP SAVE MONEY
Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton has launched a new Guide for Penny Pinchers, http://www.GuideForPennyPinchers.com, designed to connect Wisconsin consumers with information they need to help save money on gas and traveling, home energy, prescription drugs, health care, college tuition, back-to-school savings and more. The website says "Using Wisconsin's public libraries is a great way for people to stretch their dollars. Many libraries offer free programs for all kinds of interests (classes, entertainment, story time, teen programs, etc.)" The site also recommends use of BadgerLink.
The new online resource serves as an aggregator of helpful state and federal government information as well as links to useful private-sector and news websites.
3. WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE PLANS CHANGES IN TAX FORMS, ASSISTANCE, AND ELECTRONIC FILING
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) has been collaborating with some Wisconsin librarians to improve services related to tax forms, assistance, and electronic filing. The information below is intended to communicate DOR plans to all librarians in the state.
Beginning this year, each of 28 Milwaukee area libraries will be connected with two Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites. These sites will provide free preparation and e-filing services for library customers. DOR will promote the collaboration and provide posters for the libraries. DOR will provide a Milwaukee-area coordinator to ensure good communications and a successful program.
Also, new this year, DOR will have office hours in 9 community libraries where we have closed local offices. DOR employees will provide income tax assistance and the preparation of homestead credit claims. These communities are Baraboo, Beaver Dam, Elkhorn, Grafton, Hayward, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lancaster, and Sheboygan.
DOR is working with the Presidents of Wisconsin’s Technical Colleges to try to recruit more accounting student volunteers for voluntary income tax assistance programs. While this effort is just getting started, DOR hopes to have volunteer programs in every community that has a Technical College in the future.
DOR will provide a new and free e-filing program for 2008 returns filed in 2009. More information will be provided in the future. We have reached a new milestone with e-filing. Nearly 70% of taxpayers file their income tax returns electronically. Only 10% of filers actually use the tax booklets and forms printed by DOR.
DOR hopes libraries will reduce their orders of 2008 tax forms and booklets. DOR conducted an analysis of the 2007 income tax booklet distribution. This analysis showed that over 2.3 million pre-printed booklets and forms distributed by DOR were not used by taxpayers in filing their 2007 tax returns. Based on this analysis and the increase in electronic filing over the last few years, DOR strongly urges libraries to order fewer 2008 tax booklets and forms this year. DOR will e-mail you soon with instructions for placing your order.
In addition, based on discussions with your colleagues, DOR has developed the following action plans:
Create a Library Internet page: http://www.revenue.wi.gov/html/local.html. From this site you will be able to:
- View the history of 2007 tax form orders by library location.
- Find instructions for ordering 2008 forms and link to the on-line forms ordering system (to be posted in early October).
- Sign up to receive communications specifically relating to libraries by e-mail.
- Customer Service contact information.
- VITA site information.
Develop the following posters for libraries:
- “Which Form to File” to help reduce the number of forms taxpayers take.
- VITA sites information; libraries can fill in local VITA site locations and times.
- Promoting electronic filing; new products, links to e-filing, etc.
Offer a separate Rent Certificate form for claiming Homestead Credit
- Many homestead credit claimants only need a Rent Certificate, rather than the entire Schedule H/H-EZ booklet. For 2008, libraries will now be able to order just the Rent Certificate. This should greatly decrease the need to order the entire Schedule H/H-EZ booklet.
DOR looks forward to working with you and hopes these changes will be beneficial for all. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Jeff Hanson at (608) 266-8474 or e-mail at jeffrey.hanson@revenue.wi.gov.
4. PUBLIC LIBRARIES OFTEN HELP IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
Recent natural disasters, including this year's flooding in the Midwest, brought attention to the role public libraries often play in emergency situations. Those affected by disasters often turn to their public library for information, access to Internet-connected computers, and other services. A national survey indicated that almost 80% of Wisconsin's public libraries are the only provider of free public Internet access in their communities. The survey also indicated that 37% of Wisconsin public libraries serve as emergency shelters in their communities--a higher percent than in any other state.
These and other survey results are from "Public Libraries and the Internet 2007: Report to the American Library Association", available at http://www.ii.fsu.edu/projectFiles/plinternet/2007/2007_plinternet.pdf.
5. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) – http://www.fdic.gov – An independent agency of the United States government, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was created in 1933 in response to the thousands of bank failures that occurred in the 1920s and early 1930s. Since the start of FDIC insurance on January 1, 1934, no depositor has lost a single cent of insured funds as the result of a failure.
6. CALENDAR
October 10, 2008 – Library Information Technology Advisory Committee meeting, Madison
November 4-7, 2008 – Wisconsin Library Association Annual Conference, Middleton
November 11-12, 2008 – Library Services & Technology Act (LSTA) Meeting, Madison
November 14, 2008 – Council on Library and Network Development, location to be announced
January 9, 2009 – Council on Library and Network Development, location to be announced
March 22-24, 2009 – Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association (WEMTA) Spring Conference, Madison
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To access previous issues of Channel Weekly, or to subscribe or unsubscribe, go to: http://dpi.wi.gov/channel/chweekly.html
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Roslyn M. Wise
Editor, Channel Weekly
Department of Public Instruction
Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning
PO Box 7841
Madison, WI 53707-7841
Phone: (608) 266-6439
FAX: (609) 266-8770
For questions about this information, contact Roslyn M. Wise (608) 266-6439
Last updated on 10/20/2008 10:32:18 AM
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