1. 'Standing Up for Rural Wisconsin' awards include two library projects
2. WISCAT software updated
3. IMLS releases data note on libraries' use of broadband to serve high-need communities
4. Roles of public library technology in supporting education, learning highlighted in new issues brief
5. Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar to be issued
6. Website of the Week - The State of the News Media
7. Calendar
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1. 'STANDING UP FOR RURAL WISCONSIN' AWARDS INCLUDE TWO LIBRARY PROJECTS
State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster recognized 10 programs for enriching rural schools, libraries, and communities during a ceremony at the state Capitol on March 23. "Everyone here knows the joys of our rural schools and communities," Burmaster said. "The sense of unity and the values of hard work, collaboration, and innovation inspire thoughtful, committed citizens to work for the public good. Rural residents know that the future of their towns and villages is inextricably linked to the health and vitality of their public schools and libraries. Their communities are what they make them."
This was the fourth time that Burmaster presented Standing Up for Rural Schools, Libraries, and Communities awards. The awards included the following two library-related projects:
The Rusk County Community Library and the Ladysmith-Hawkins School District collaborated to create Summer Learning in the Park. The three-week-long program includes time for children in grades K-4 to develop and maintain reading and mathematics skills, use the library and participate in the summer reading program, share meal times, and engage in recreational activities. Professional performers, funded by the Friends of the Library, augment the offerings. Accepting the award were Carolyn Forde and Erica Moravec.
The Luck Library-Museum Building Project was the community's first new construction on Main Street since the 1970s. Funding came from private donations and a Rural Development Block Grant. In-kind donations for excavation, cement work, plumbing, interior finishing, heating, painting, and carpeting made the project a true community-wide effort and a legacy to literacy and life-long learning. Accepting the award were Chuck Adelman, Tam Howie, and Marty Messar.
A full listing of the award winners is at
http://www.dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpi2009_30.pdf.
2. WISCAT SOFTWARE UPGRADED
WISCAT's AGent software was upgraded on Monday, March 23, 2009. A brief list of changes in this scheduled upgrade includes:
Multiple List Functionality
The current Bibliography feature, has been enhanced to support the creation of multiple lists. This functionality allows users (who have accounts and are logged in) to create wish lists of items they would like to read, lists of items they have read, list of items they would like to request through interlibrary loan, etc. Access to and configuration of the Lists feature is managed through the PAC Administration module using the Lists function. Libraries may choose to enable or disable Lists functionality based on user class (library guests, library patrons and/or staff members) and determine the reference information included with each title added to a list (call numbers, locations and/or barcodes).
ILL Request Form Patron Notice
The ILL Request Form and Blank Request Form have been enhanced to allow for the addition of a locally-defined message or "disclaimer" note (displayed at the top of the forms) related to availability of items through ILL or other pertinent information. Management of the ILL request Form Patron Notice is accomplished through the ILL Administration module.
New Fields on ILL Request Forms
The ILL Request Form and Blank Request Form have been modified to include the following fields: Uniform Title, Physical Description, Any Edition is Acceptable, Show Date, Status & Year and Program & Course. The added fields are also shown on all ILL request Full Record Displays, with the exception of the Status & Year and Program & Course fields, which are shown on Borrower's Full Record Displays only.
Lender List Validation for Sound Recordings, Movies and Large-Print Books
To ensure retrieval of appropriate records during creation of an ILL Lender List for sound recordings, movies and large-print books, the Lender List validation routine has been enhanced to include validation against MARC Tag 007 bytes 0 and 1. Additionally, the Lender List validation routine has been enhanced to include validation against MARC Tag 007/01.
Date Entry Calendar for "Need By" Date
Previously, when specifying the Need By date for an ILL request, it was necessary to select the desired date from a menu of default values (One Week, One Month, One Year, etc.). The Need By date field on the ILL Request Form and Blank Request Form now provides a Date Entry Calendar. When the calendar is opened, the user can select the desired Need By date. The Need By date field on the ILL Request Form and Blank Request Form now provides a Date Entry Calendar. When the calendar is opened, the user can select a date.
Patron Cancellation of ILL Requests
An optional feature is now available that, when enabled, allows authenticated library patrons to cancel ILL requests through the ILL Request Tracking function. Only those requests currently at a status of Awaiting Approval (borrower), Pending (lender), Will Supply (lender - for AG Closed systems), In Process (lender - for AG Closed systems), or Will Supply/In Process (lender - for ISO ILL systems) can be cancelled by library patrons. All patron-submitted cancellation requests must be approved by library staff to complete the cancellation process.
UDMM Options Menu
The UDMM Options menu shown on all Full Record Displays has been renamed Report Catalog Errors to better identify the purpose of the features and functions available through the menu.
Configuring the Splash Page
The Splash Page Administration module has been enhanced to provide additional options for configuring and customizing the Splash Page:
* Feeds - The Splash Page Administrator may now specify the desired colors for the header, background and text for the "News Feeds" section of the Splash Page.
* Calendar - The Splash Page Administrator may now specify the text for the Calendar Message (heading) as well as the desired colors for the header, background, and text for the "Events Calendar" section of the Splash Page.
Local and Global Splash Pages - The Splash Page Administrator may now specify the background color for the entire Splash Page.
For a complete set of the documentation of the changes, to schedule a training session, or if you have any questions, please contact the WISCAT team. They are happy to offer refresher sessions, answer questions about resource sharing or the WISCAT software, or train new staff. Contact them and schedule a time!
* David Sleasman - Technology;
david.sleasman@dpi.wi.gov
* Vickie Long - Training and licensing;
vickie.long@dpi.wi.gov
* Martha Berninger - Interlibrary Loan;
martha.berninger@dpi.wi.gov
Or call them toll free at (888) 542-5543
If you have a comment or suggestion regarding WISCAT, feel free to call or email and let them know what you are thinking!
3. IMLS RELEASES DATA NOTE ON LIBRARIES' USE OF BROADBAND TO SERVE HIGH-NEED COMMUNITIES
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) recently announced the launch of its new series of data notes and research briefs to inform library and museum policy. "These publications are part of an overall plan to develop and disseminate short, intermediate, and long-range research projects," said Anne-Imelda Radice, director, IMLS. "Our goal is to provide reliable and consistent data on museums and libraries that these institutions can use to help demonstrate public value."
The first data note in the series, Libraries Use Broadband to Serve High Need Communities, was just released and focuses on the role that public libraries play in providing access points to broadband services for people in urban and rural areas, and families in need. To read the data note, please go to:
http://www.imls.gov/pdf/DataNote2009_01.pdf.
4. ROLES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY TECHNOLOGY IN SUPPORTING EDUCATION, LEARNING HIGHLIGHTED IN NEW ISSUES BRIEF
The public library is a key agency in supporting the educational and learning needs of every person in the community. Libraries offer vital resources for early literacy development, homework help, home-school families, continuing education, and lifelong avocations.
In the third of a series of reports related to technology access in U.S. public libraries, the American Library Association (ALA) Office for Research & Statistics (ORS) is highlighting how public library technology supports the educational and learning needs of people of all ages. The issues brief (
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/ors/plftas/Issues%20brief-Ed.pdf) draws from national data published in the Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study (
http://www.ala.org/plinternetfunding).
"Supporting Learners in U.S. Public Libraries" outlines many of the resources public libraries offer learners of all ages, some of the challenges libraries face in meeting growing demand for computer and Internet resources, and how increased funding would enable public libraries to offer increased assistance and resources to their communities.
"From our earliest history, U.S. public libraries have played a role in lifelong learning and ensuring equal access to a world of resources," said ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels. "Just as there are millions of titles available in print, the range of Internet-based services available in our libraries is quite diverse - including homework help, research databases, practice tests and more. In a world where knowledge is power, public libraries help make everyone more powerful."
Among the findings from the national study are:
73 percent of libraries report they are the only source of free Internet access in their community;
83 percent of public libraries offer online homework resources; and
73 percent of public libraries offer information technology training to library patrons to help them use computers and effectively search the Internet.
The briefing reports are not intended to be comprehensive, but rather to share key findings from the largest and longest-running study of Internet connectivity in libraries. The Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and ALA, continues work begun in 1994 by John Carlo Bertot and Charles R. McClure. The study assesses public access to computers, the Internet and Internet-related services in U.S. public libraries, as well as the impact of library funding changes on connectivity, technology deployment and sustainability.
To download a copy of the job-seeking report, please visit:
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/ors/plftas/Issues%20brief-Ed.pdf.
5. LOUIS BRAILLE BICENTENNIAL SILVER DOLLAR TO BE ISSUED
The 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar commemorates the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille, inventor of the Braille system that is still used by the blind to read and write. For the first time in history, a United States coin features readable Braille and is available in both proof and uncirculated versions. The coin is considered legal tender. Both the proof and uncirculated coins are composed of 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper. The proof coin is double stamped and is made from a different blank than the uncirculated version. This means that the proof's image will be sharper and the coin itself will be shinier. Four hundred thousand coins will be minted. Sales begin March 26, 2009 and the pre-issue period ends at 5:00 on April 27, 2009. Coins can be ordered online from the U.S. Mint or by phone at 1-800-USA-MINT or TTY at 1-800-321-MINT.
6. Website of the Week
The State of the News Media --
http://stateofthemedia.org/2009/index.htm -- A report from the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism, "The State of the News Media 2009" is the sixth edition of this annual report on the health and status of American journalism. The goal of the project is to take stock of the revolution occurring in how Americans get information and provide a resource for citizens, journalists and researchers to make their own assessments. The Pew Research Center is a nonpolitical, nonpartisan research institute.
7. CALENDAR
April 8-9, 2009 - LSTA Advisory Committee meeting, Madison
April 12-18, 2009 - National Library Week
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
May 15, 2009 - Council on Library and Network Development meeting, Stevens Point (TBC)
June 8, 2009 - Library Information Technology Advisory Committee, Madison
June 28-July 1, 2009 - National Educational Computing Conference, Washington D.C.
July 9-15, 2009 - American Library Association Annual Conference, Chicago
October 12, 2009 - Library Information Technology Advisory Committee, Madison
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 3/27/2009 10:55:39 AM
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