1. LSTA grant application form now available
2. IMLS and Congressional offices to hold grant workshops
3. BadgerLink Update: EBSCOhost text only interface to be retired
4. Rural Community Facilities direct loan and grant programs boosted by ARRA
5. On-Line Learner's Dictionary helpful for people trying to learn English
6. Website of the Week - Occupational Outlook Handbook
7. Calendar
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1. LSTA GRANT APPLICATION FORM NOW AVAILABLE:
The LSTA website (
http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/lsta.html) now contains a link to the 2010 LSTA grant application forms. The form is web-based and requires attention to instructions particularly if you print a copy for your records OR if completion of the grant application requires multiple sessions. 2010 LSTA grant applications and signatures are due by September 11, 2009. Contact Terrie Howe (
Teresa.howe@dpi.wi.gov OR 608-266-2413) if you have questions.
2. IMLS AND CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES TO HOLD GRANT WORKSHOPS
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), in conjunction with members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, will hold workshops for potential applicants to its grants programs between August 24 and August 27, 2009, in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa.
Following is information about workshops in Wisconsin:
Madison -- August 24, 2009, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; Wisconsin Historical Society, 816 State Street. Hosted by U.S. Senator Herb Kohl and U.S. Representative Tammy Baldwin; co-hosted by U.S. Representatives Gwendolynne Moore and Thomas Petri.
Eau Claire -- August 25, 2009, 9 a.m.-11 a.m.; Chippewa Valley Museum, 1204 Carson Park Drive. Hosted by U.S. Senator Herb Kohl and U.S. Representative Ron Kind.
All of the sessions will feature a member of the IMLS staff, who will provide an overview of IMLS programs and grant opportunities, and experienced IMLS grant applicants and peer reviewers, who will provide insights and advice on what makes a successful grant application. Representatives of the state agencies with responsibility for library services will also be on the panels.
There is no charge for any of these workshops; RSVP by e-mailing
koconnell@imls.gov. The pool of eligible applicants for IMLS programs includes not-for-profit, non-federal museums and libraries, and Native American tribes that are conducting museum or library activities.
3. BADGERLINK UPDATE: EBSCOHOST TEXT ONLY INTERFACE TO BE RETIRED
With the success of last summer's EBSCOhost 2.0 fully ADA compliant release, users now have an excellent alternative to the EBSCOhost Text Only interface. The Text Only interface will be fully retired by mid-September. For more information and user reviews of EBSCO's 508 Accessibility, please visit
http://www.ebscohost.com/thisTopic.php?marketID=1&topicID=844.
If you use the Text Only interface for accessing EBSCOhost via a handheld device, you will find EBSCOhost 2.0 equally effective. A brand new product for accessing EBSCOhost using handheld devices is currently in development and targeted for release in the fall.
For those who continue to use the Text Only interface to minimize connectivity speed issues based on your local network providers, EBSCOhost 2.0 provides a superior alternative to Text Only.
Please change your links and start using EBSCOhost 2.0 now, to give yourself time to become accustomed to its streamlined design and features before Text Only's discontinuance, and to take advantage of all that EBSCOhost 2.0 has to offer. For further information, please see this FAQ, or contact BadgerLink Technical Support at any time,
http://dpi.wi.gov/rll/wiscat/bl_sup.asp.
4. RURAL COMMUNITY FACILITIES DIRECT LOAN AND GRANT PROGRAMS BOOSTED BY ARRA
United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) Community Facilities (CF) direct loans and grants are available to develop essential community facilities in rural areas and towns of up to 20,000 in population. Funds may be used for facility acquisition, construction, renovation, or the purchase of equipment and furnishings. Eligible applicants are units of local government, non-profit organizations, and Federally-recognized Indian tribes. Grants are available on a prorated basis for projects in communities with smaller populations and lower median household incomes. Facilities financed through the CF program must primarily serve rural residents. The goal of the CF program is to improve the quality of life for rural residents through the provision of essential community facilities such as health care, public safety, and education. The program provides facilities, equipment, and furnishings to house and provide these services; operating funds are not available through this program.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provides $1.1 billion for CF direct loans through fiscal year (FY) 2010. The average CF direct loan in FY 2008 was $665,229. For CF grants, just over $61 million is available. CF loan and grant applications are processed at the local level. Please contact the Rural Development Area Office serving your community for additional information and application materials.
Rural Development offices are listed at:
http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app.
5. ON-LINE LEARNER'S DICTIONARY HELPFUL FOR PEOPLE TRYING TO LEARN ENGLISH
Libraries that have literacy links on their web page might want to add one to the Merriam Webster's Learner's Dictionary at
http://www.learnersdictionary.com/practice/index.htm. This on-line dictionary includes 3,000 of the most essential words a new English learner needs to get by as a second-language speaker. It also has audio of the word being read aloud. Users can create personal dictionary for future reference, which allows them to see his or her personal lexicon grow over time. Idioms are included and mastering them helps a second language learner sound more natural.
6. Website of the Week
Occupational Outlook Handbook --
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ -- This website, produced by the US Department of Labor, provides a variety of employment-related information including prospects, education and training, earnings, etc. The Handbook also gives job search tips, links to information about the job market in each state, and more.
7. CALENDAR
September 11, 2009 - Council on Library and Network Development meeting, Beloit
September 28, 2009 - Delivery Services Advisory Committee, by webinar from Madison
October 13, 2009 - Library Information Technology Advisory Committee, Madison
October 20-23, 2009 - Wisconsin Library Association Annual Conference, Appleton
April 11-17, 2010 - National Library Week
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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 8/14/2009 11:02:21 AM
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