Public Library Development Team
Work Plan for July 2007 to June 2008

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Team Mission

The Public Library Development Team provides leadership, advocacy, assistance, planning, coordination, and funding for the improvement of public libraries and public library systems so that all Wisconsin residents have equitable access to information and knowledge resources.

Ongoing Activities

• Administer the State Aid to Public Library Systems Program
• Administer the federal Library Services and Technology Act Grant Program
• Administer the Public Librarian Certification Program
• Provide consultation and assistance to public libraries and public library systems in the following areas:
  • Administration
  • Finance
  • Technology
  • Services to special populations
  • Services to youth
  • Continuing education
• Coordinate a statewide summer reading program
• Collect and disseminate public library statistics and directory information
• Establish and promote voluntary public library standards
• Assist libraries and library systems participating in the Federal E-rate program
• Provide leadership through service on state and national library committees
• Provide accurate and timely information through Channel, Channel Weekly, websites, and email discussion lists
• Monitor, analyze, and report on state and federal legislation that affects libraries

Team Activities for 2007-2008

• Expand web resources and FAQs on library law, library administration, and library system membership.

• Conduct follow-up activities on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation public library technology rural sustainability grant program in Wisconsin.

• Implement the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Spanish Language Outreach grant program in Wisconsin.

• Plan and implement the first year of a Wisconsin Public Library Adolescent Literacy Initiative.

• Develop and improve the use of electronic forms in the submission of public library statistical and grant information.

• Continue development of an online handbook for public library directors titled Administrative Essentials.

• Assist libraries and library systems to obtain any available funds to supplement bandwidth for BadgerNet, and promote its effective use.

• Assist COLAND with a possible statewide library planning process.

• Revise the public library system annual report and the required data collection.

• Conduct follow-up activities to the study of school libraries in shared integrated library systems.

• Work with a vendor on a study of the economic impact of public libraries in Wisconsin and disseminate results.

• Follow up, as appropriate, on Legislative Audit Bureau “best practices” review of local library service in Wisconsin.

• Review library system aid formula and pursue changes, if desirable.

• Prepare for distribution of new computer hardware grants from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

• Transition to the new data reporting method for e-rate program qualification.

• Monitor implementation and impact of statutory cross county library reimbursement requirements for non resident use.

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Let me know if you have any questions.

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

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