1. Wisconsin libraries almost universally offer free wireless Internet access
2. COLAND approves biennial report on condition and progress of library service in Wisconsin
3. New LSTA JOBS category web site
4. Preliminary 2008 public library statistics available
5. UW consortium receives grant to train school library media specialists
6. Energy efficiency grants available under ARRA
7. Website of the Week: Resources for Genealogists and Family Historians
8. Calendar
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NOTE - Channel Weekly will not be published next week (July 23). The next issue of Channel Weekly will be the July 30, 2009, edition.
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1. WISCONSIN LIBRARIES ALMOST UNIVERSALLY OFFER FREE WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS
State Superintendent Tony Evers announced that nearly all Wisconsin residents can now access free wireless Internet service at their local public library, the result in part of strategic leveraging of federal money by the Department of Public Instruction. The department has worked with libraries for many years to enhance Internet access because of its usefulness to the public, especially in challenging economic times.
"Our citizens look to public libraries for access to up-to-date technology, especially now," said Evers. "Since many employers receive applications exclusively on-line, job-seekers absolutely need the Internet to search and apply for work. Job-seekers also utilize on-line materials for things like test preparation and resume creation."
Data collected by the department shows that 345 Wisconsin libraries, serving 97 percent of the state's population, offered free wireless Internet at the end of 2008. The department's goal is for 100 percent of Wisconsin residents to have access to free wireless at their libraries. To that end, in 2008 the agency began targeting federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding to help libraries add wireless Internet.
The full press release on this issue is at
http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2009_05.pdf.
2. COLAND APPROVES BIENNIAL REPORT ON CONDITION AND PROGRESS OF LIBRARY SERVICE IN WISCONSIN
At its July 10 meeting, the Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND) approved a biennial report on the condition and progress of library service in Wisconsin. The report summarizes progress in the development of library service in recent years, current challenges facing Wisconsin libraries, and recommendations for the future. The report will be provided to the Governor, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and all members of the legislature.
Below are the key recommendations of the report:
- A summit should be held including school administrators, school board members, parents and others to address the issue of reduced staffing in school library media centers.
- The Department of Public Instruction should continue to allocate federal LSTA funds to support library services that assist job seekers and those who want to improve their job skills.
- Training must be available to ensure all Wisconsin library staff have the skills necessary to provide 21st century library service to all Wisconsin residents.
- Wisconsin should provide 13% index level funding for public library systems. Wisconsin's public library systems have a proven track record of cost-effective services provided in cooperation with member libraries and member counties. These services, including resource sharing and open access, are threatened if the funding index level continues at a level below 13%.
- Wisconsin should remove arbitrary levy limits and revenue caps that interfere with local decision-making about the quality of local libraries.
- The Common School Fund must be protected for its constitutional purpose--the purchase of school library materials.
- Wisconsin should fully fund the statewide resource library contracts and expand the resources available through BadgerLink. These statewide resources cost-effectively expand the information available to Wisconsin libraries and to all residents of the state.
- Efforts should be made to reduce barriers to the ability of Wisconsin residents to use any library they choose.
- Using federal American Recovery and Reinvestment funds, fiber connections should be provided to all Wisconsin public libraries and schools to ensure bandwidth needed for future growth.
The full 6-page COLAND report is available at
http://dpi.wi.gov/coland/pdf/COLAND_Biennial_Progress_Report_2008-09.pdf.
3. NEW LSTA JOBS CATEGORY WEB SITE
The Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning now has a web page that includes information on current LSTA-funded JOBS projects across Wisconsin. The web page also includes links to web sites created by library systems to assist job seekers.
Another section of the web page includes links to recent news articles and video clips related to libraries serving people who are looking for jobs. The web page is at
http://www.dpi.wi.gov/pld/lstajobs.html.
4. PRELIMINARY 2008 PUBLIC LIBRARY STATISTICS AVAILABLE
The preliminary 2008 statistics for Wisconsin public libraries, compiled from annual reports data, is available in Excel spreadsheet format:
http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/xls/08prelimpublib.xls.
The preliminary data may be useful for budget or planning purposes. The final Wisconsin data, including county and library system summaries, will be available this fall. The statistics are based on information submitted on the 2008 Public Library Annual Reports. Errors should be reported to John DeBacher,
john.debacher@dpi.wi.gov.
5. UW CONSORTIUM RECEIVES GRANT TO TRAIN SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALISTS
The University of Wisconsin System School Library Education Consortium (UWSSLEC) is the recipient of a $1 million grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The Laura Bush 21st Century Library Grant Program supports projects to develop faculty and library leaders, to recruit and educate the next generation of librarians, and to conduct research on the library profession. It also supports projects to attract high school and college students to consider careers in libraries, to build institutional capacity in graduate schools of library and information science, and to assist in the professional development of librarians and library staff. The grant the consortium is receiving is part of the master's level programs which are designed to educate the next generation of librarians. The focus will be to increase the number of students enrolled in an accredited graduate library program and to ultimately to provide enough certified school library media specialists to fill positions in underserved areas of Wisconsin.
The University of Wisconsin System School Education Consortium (UWSSEC) is a collaborative venture of five state universities, including campuses in Whitewater, Madison, Eau Claire, Superior, and Oshkosh. To address a statewide shortage of school library media specialists, UWSSEC will partner with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association to train 50 new school library media specialists for the state's rural and high-need urban public schools. This new workforce will be recruited from teachers already working in those schools, who will receive full scholarships to earn a master's degree in librarianship with a school library media specialization. Project staff also will develop instructional materials to help school administrators better understand the role of school library media specialists.
6. ENERGY EFFICIENCY GRANTS AVAILABLE UNDER ARRA
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) includes funding for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG). Communities in Wisconsin under 35,000 population will be eligible for competitive grants that fit one of two statewide priorities: 1) retrofitting of municipal buildings (insulation, windows, HA/VC, and related) and 2) lighting (for municipal facilities, including interior and exterior lighting). Approximately $37,100,000 will be available to local government in Wisconsin. It is expected that the U.S. Department of Energy will start releasing the funds for this program in August or September.
Slides of the presentation on this program are available at
http://energyindependence.wi.gov/docview.asp?docid=16774&locid=160
7. Website of the Week
Resources for Genealogists and Family Historians --
http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/ -- The website of the National Archives provides an extensive resource for individuals interested in genealogical and family history research. Because the records at the National Archives come from every branch of the Federal government, almost all Americans can find themselves, their ancestors, or their community in the archives.
8. CALENDAR
September 11, 2009 - Council on Library and Network Development meeting, TBD
October 15, 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 7/17/2009 8:40:47 AM
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