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Table of Contents
1. LSTA Advisory Committee nominations sought
2. Summary of adult literacy needs in Wisconsin
3. February 1, 2009 deadline for IMLS National Leadership Grants
4. Recent study emphasizes "Grey Gold" for rural communities
5. Website of the Week - Stateline.org
6. Calendar
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1. LSTA ADVISORY COMMITTEE NOMINATIONS SOUGHT
Several members of the LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) Advisory Committee have completed their terms on the committee as of the end of 2008 and suggestions for new members to serve on the committee are sought. The LSTA Advisory Committee advises the State Superintendent of Public Instruction on matters pertaining to the administration of the LSTA program. Membership on the committee includes representatives from libraries and library systems of various types and sizes and from different geographic areas of the state. Members of the committee are appointed to serve staggered three-year terms and the committee usually meets twice a year, in the spring and in the fall.
The nomination form is located at:
http://www.dpi.wi.gov/pld/pdf/lstadvfrm09.pdf . Please contact Terrie Howe, LSTA Program Coordinator, at
teresa.howe@dpi.wi.gov or (608) 266-2413 if you have any questions. A list of the 2008 LSTA Advisory Committee members is available on the web at
http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/lstaadvcom.html.
2. SUMMARY OF ADULT LITERACY NEEDS IN WISCONSIN
The Fall 2008 edition of "Literacy Matters," the newsletter for Wisconsin Literacy, Inc., includes some interesting data on adult literacy needs in Wisconsin. The article summarizes data submitted by forty-nine literacy agencies in Wisconsin. Some of the highlights include:
* 24 of the 49 literacy providers have a waiting list of learners waiting for a tutor.
* There are currently 662 learners on the waiting lists.
* There were 3,299 active volunteer tutors in 2007-08.
* In 2007-08 the number of volunteer tutoring hours was 230,121.
* The literacy providers served 9,910 Adult Basic Literacy learners in 2007-08.
* The literacy providers served 5,363 English as a Second Language learners in 2007-08.
* The total number of learners served in 2007-08 was 15,273.
* 1,059 learners advanced at least one level on the National Reporting System standards in reading, writing, speaking, listening, or math.
* 803 literacy students completed their GED or high school equivalency exams.
* 898 learners were able to keep their current jobs.
* 316 students got better jobs because of their improved literacy skills.
* 43 students went on to post-secondary training or education.
3. FEBRUARY 1, 2009, DEADLINE FOR IMLS NATIONAL LEADERSHIP GRANTS
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) National Leadership Grants (NLG) support projects that have the potential to elevate museum and library practice. The Institute seeks to advance the ability of museums and libraries to preserve culture, heritage, and knowledge while enhancing learning. Successful proposals will have national impact and generate results-new tools, research, models, services, practices, or alliances-that can be widely adapted or replicated to extend the benefit of federal investment. The Institute seeks to fund projects that have the characteristics of strategic Impact, innovation, and/or collaboration.
Applications may be submitted in the following categories: Advancing Digital Resources, Research, Demonstration, and Library and Museum Collaboration Grants. Collaborative Planning Grants are also available in any of the four categories to enable project teams from more than one institution to work together to plan a project for a National Leadership Grant.
Grants may range from $50,000-$1,000,000 ($100,000 for planning grants), with matching requirements. Further information and application can be found here:
http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/nationalLeadership.shtm .
4. RECENT STUDY EMPHASIZES "GREY GOLD" FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES
The Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire has released results of a study indicating that older Americans who retire to rural areas quickly become involved and often provide a tremendous benefit by volunteering in their new communities. The summary report "Grey Gold: Do Older In-Migrants Benefit Rural Communities?" is available at
http://carseyinstitute.unh.edu/ .
The study was conducted by Nina Glasgow, a senior research associate in the Department of Development Sociology at Cornell University and David Brown, a Cornell University professor of development sociology, director of the Community and Rural Development Institute and associate director of the Cornell Population Program. The report notes that rural retirement destinations (RRDs: a U.S. Department of Agriculture designation for the 274 nonmetropolitan counties that experienced net in-migration of 15 percent or higher among persons 60-plus between 1995 - 2000) are one of the only types of nonmetropolitan counties in the country experiencing consistent population growth during the last 30 years. There are a number of such RRD counties in Wisconsin, also featured in a Milwaukee Magazine article, "Retiree Revolution," from March 1, 2008, although none were included in the case study counties for the Carsey Institute report.
According to the press release, the study determined that "older in-migration should be seen as neither a burden nor a boon for rural areas but rather as a source of both challenges and opportunities."
With the increase in retirements coming with the aging of the baby boom generation, public libraries may find it necessary to adjust services and programs accordingly. The California State Library produced the first in a series of Webinars as part of their "Transforming Life after 50 Initiative." Entitled "Attracting Baby Boomers to Volunteer Service," the webinar, along with copies of slides and handouts, is archived at
http://infopeople.org/training/webcasts/webcast_data/276/index.html .
5. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
Stateline.org --
http://www.stateline.org/live/ -- This Web site, staffed entirely by professional journalists, was originally envisioned primarily as a resource for newsmen and newswomen who cover state government. Readership includes thousands of state officials, students of state government and ordinary citizens who want to keep track of what's going on in their state capitol and in other states throughout the country. Stateline.org is an independent element of the Pew Research Center and is based in Washington, DC. (Website reference courtesy of refdesk.com)
6. CALENDAR
January 9, 2009 - Council on Library and Network Development, Cottage Grove
February 3, 2009 - WEMTA/WLA Library Legislative Day, Madison
March 13, 2009 - Council on Library and Network Development, TBA
March 22-24, 2009 - Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association Spring Conference, Madison
April 21-24, 2009 - Wisconsin Association of Academic Librarians Annual Conference, Green Lake
May 6-8, 2009 - Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries Spring Conference, Wisconsin Dells
October 20-23, 2009 - Wisconsin Library Association Annual Conference, Appleton
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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 1/6/2009 11:13:37 AM
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