Wisconsin Public Library Legislation and Funding Task Force

Contents

Background on the Task Force

Meetings and Activities

The final task force meeting was held Thursday, August 15, 2002.  At that meeting the Task Force made their final recommendations which are available in html by clicking here. This document is also available in Word format by clicking here (Microsoft Word file).

The final Task Force recommendations were drafted into a "language" bill (introduced as SB 273 and signed into law by Governor Doyle as 2005 Wisconsin Act 226 on March 27, 2006), and a "reform" bill (SB 272, signed into law as 2005 Wisconsin Act 420 on May 19, 2006). A summary of the provisions that were originally proposed in the two packages is below:

• Task Force proposed revisions to library statutes "language" revision bill. (Microsoft Word file.)
• Task force proposed changes to library statutes "reform" bill. (Microsoft Word file.)

Task Force Members

Task Force Resources (including public comments to the Task Force)

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Background on the Task Force 

State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster appointed this Task Force, to be chaired by Cal Potter, the former Assistant State Superintendent, to undertake a review of legislation and funding issues relating to public libraries and public library systems and to make recommendations to the State Superintendent for consideration in developing the Department of Public Instruction's 2003-2005 budget and legislative requests.

Any questions, comments, or suggestions concerning the work of the Task Force should be directed to Rick Grobschmidt (608-266-2205, richard.grobschmidt@dpi.wi.gov) or Mike Cross (608-267-9225, michael.cross@dpi.wi.gov).

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Meeting Agendas and Activities

All meetings were open to the library community and the general public.

Summary of First Task Force Meeting Held on April 11, 2002 (Word file)

Summary of Second Task Force Meeting Held on May 16, 2002 (Word file)

Summary of Third Task Force Meeting Held on June 12, 2002 (Word file)

Summary of Fourth Task Force Meeting Held on July 25, 2002 (Word file)

Final Task Force Recommendations (from the fifth Task Force meeting held on August 15, 2002). This document is also available in Word format by clicking here (Microsoft Word file).

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Task Force Members

Calvin J. Potter, Assistant State Superintendent, DPI, Task Force Chair

Bernard Bellin, Lakeshores Library System

Rebecca Berger, Door County Public Library

Mary Bethke, Marathon County Public Library

Karen Busch, Cuba City, Wisconsin Library Trustees Association

Terry Dawson, Appleton Public Library

Representative Stephen J. Freese, State Representative from Dodgeville

Senator Richard Grobschmidt, State Senator from South Milwaukee

Ken Hall, Winnefox Library System

Peter Hamon, South Central Library System

Thomas J. Hennen, Jr., Waukesha County Federated Library System

Ann Hokanson, Prescott Public Library

Kathleen Huston, Milwaukee Public Library

Karen Krueger, Hedberg Public Library, Janesville

Paul E. Nelson, Middleton Public Library

Robert Pfeiffer, South Milwaukee Public Library

David L. Polodna, Winding Rivers Library System

John C. Reid, West Bend, Council on Library and Network Development

James Trojanowski, Vaughn Public Library, Ashland

Sharon Winkle, Mead Public Library, Sheboygan

Curt Witynski, League of Wisconsin Municipalities

Wisconsin Counties Association (representative to be selected)

Task force staff:

Larry Nix, Director of Public Library Development, DPI

Mike Cross, Consultant, Public Library Administration and Funding, DPI

Al Zimmerman, Consultant, Public Library System Administration and Finance, DPI

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Task Force Resources

Final Task Force Recommendations (from the fifth Task Force meeting held on August 15, 2002) This document is also available in Word format by clicking here (Microsoft Word file).

Issue paper #1: Municipal exemption from a county library tax (updated 8/15/02) (Word file)

Issue paper #2: Public library system governance (updated 8/15/02) (Word file)

Issue paper #3: Library system membership requirements (updated 8/15/02) (Word file)

Issue paper #4: Library usage across county borders (updated 8/15/02) (Word file)

Issue paper #5: Joint public libraries (updated 8/15/02) (Word file)

Issue paper #6: Library system size and organization (updated 8/15/02) (Word file)

Issue paper # 7: Public library standards (updated 8/15/02) (Word file)

Issue paper # 8: County library organizations (updated 8/15/02) (Word file)

Issue paper # 9: District public libraries (updated 8/15/02) (Word file) (Note: This paper is on the concept of district public libraries not a discussion of the specific legislation being drafted at the request of Representative Kestell)

Issue paper # 10: Crossover library use (updated 8/15/02) (Word file)

Issue paper # 11: A statewide public library card (Badgercard) (updated 8/15/02) (Word file)

Issue paper # 12: Public library system services and system resource libraries (updated 8/15/02) (Word file)

Issue paper # 13: Public library system funding (updated 8/15/02) (Word file)

Issue paper # 14: Statewide delivery of materials (updated 8/15/02) (Word file)

Issue paper # 15: 24/7 Extended statewide reference services (updated 8/15/02) (Word file)

Issue paper # 16: Statewide access to electronic resources (updated 8/15/02) (Word file)

Issue paper # 17 Other public library and public library system statutory revisions (updated 8/15/02) (Word file)

Overview of Wisconsin Public Library Funding and Nonresident Borrowing Issues (Word file)

Background Paper on Wisconsin Public Library Governance and Larger Units of Service (Word file)

Public comments to the Legislation and Funding Task Force

A program was held at the Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries (WAPL) Spring Conference on May 2, 2002 that provided an opportunity for attendees to provide input to the Wisconsin Public Library Legislation and Funding Task Force. A summary of those comments is available in Word format by clicking here.

Wisconsin Public Library and System Statutes and Administrative Code (PDF)

Wisconsin County Library Planning and Funding Law and Other 1997 Act 150 Library Law Changes

Wisconsin Public Library Statistics (http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/dm-lib-stat.html)

2002 Public Library System Budgets (Excel file) These spreadsheets and graphs show 2002 public library system budgets including income sources and planned budgets by program area.

Legislative Fiscal Bureau informational paper on public libraries and library systems (2001)

Developing a Unifying Vision for Library Services in Wisconsin: 2000-2001
This System and Resource Library Administrators Association of Wisconsin (SRLAAW) project explored strategies for improving state funding for public library systems and resulted in recommendations for the improvement of public library service.

Wisconsin Public Library Standards, Fourth Edition (2005)
This DLTCL publication defines a basic level of library service that should be available to all residents of Wisconsin and also provides a pathway to excellence in local library service.

Kettl Commision Report on State-Local Partnerships for the 21st Century

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Comments on issues related to the Task Force's work, and links to other related resources can be made available through this web page by contacting:
Mike Cross, Director, Public Library Development Team
State Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning
Public Library Development
125 S. Webster St., P.O. Box 7841, Madison WI 53707-7841
608-267-9225, fax 608-266-2529 michael.cross@dpi.wi.gov

For questions about this information, contact Michael H. Cross (608) 267-9225

Last updated on 2/25/2008 9:06:14 AM