Index
- 2008 SCLS Annual Meeting May 7 at UW-Madison Arboretum
- December Continuing Education Opportunities
- WebJunction, Ed2go courses available free to most public library staff
- Member/Staff News
- SCLS changes process for adding SCLS shared databases
- Jail Library Group Celebrates 15th Anniversary
- Online Continuing Ed Courses from UW-Madison SLIS
- Monona Public Library develops Sustainability Section
- BlogJunction offers opportunity for libraries to ‘shine the spotlight’
- Continuing Education Calendar
2008 SCLS Annual Meeting May 7 at UW-Madison Arboretum
The SCLS Annual Meeting has been scheduled for May 7, 2008, at the UW-Madison Arboretum Visitor Center.
Mark your calendars now, and check the Annual Meeting web page for more information in the near future. The Annual Meeting Committee is in the process of planning this event, and the agenda will be posted as soon as it is finalized.
You can learn more about the Arboretum online, and find a map and driving directions.
December Continuing Education Opportunities
Here is a brief description of the December CE program being sponsored by SCLS.
- ¡HOLA! -- Hispanic Outreach Library Action Project Workshop -- Wednesday, Dec. 5, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at SCLS Administration Offices, 5250 E. Terrace Drive, Suite A-2, Madison, with presenter Marcia Sarnowski, Library Consultant, Winding Rivers Library System -- Join us for an all-day workshop to empower your staff to meet the library service needs of Spanish speakers in your communities. Using resources, case studies, web sites and action plans you will gain useful tips and tools for reaching out to Spanish speakers near your library. Lunch will be provided. This ¡HOLA! Project workshop is part of WebJunction’s Spanish Language Outreach Program, made possible by a grant to Wisconsin from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This grant is being administered by the Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning. The WebJunction workshops provide library staff with information about proven marketing techniques, understanding cultural differences, and providing technology training and partnering with local community organizations serving Spanish speakers. Register through the SCLS Continuing Education Calendar.
Save the Dates
- January 29 & 30, 2008—The Black Belt Librarian (Warren Graham) will be in Madison & Marshfield, respectively, for all-day workshops on library safety and security.
- April 17, 2007—The May Hill Arbuthnot Lecture with David Macaulay is scheduled at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison at 7:00 p.m.
- April 23 & 24, 2008—Jodi Pfarr returns to Madison with her popular “Bridges Out of Poverty” program at UW-Madison Pyle Center (co-sponsored by SLIS).
More information about these and other upcoming programs will be available soon on the SCLS Continuing Education Calendar.
WebJunction, Ed2go courses available free to most public library staff
This is just a reminder that from now until Dec. 15, 2007, most Wisconsin public library staff are eligible to register for WebJunction and Education to Go (ed2go) courses free of charge. The Division for Libraries, Technology and Community Learning (DLTCL) will pay for these courses using funds available as part of the Rural Library Sustainability Program, which is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. To qualify for the free courses, your library must serve a municipal population under 25,000 or serve an area classified as rural for census purposes -- over 90 percent of the state's public libraries qualify.
For more information, or to register for either WebJunction or ed2go courses, visit http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/wjcoursereg.html. All course work must be completed by Feb. 29, 2008. To obtain the necessary registration codes, contact Jean Anderson, Continuing Education Coordinator, at (608) 246-5613.
Kathleen Baird, a Page II at the Madison Public Library’s Monroe Street Branch, has received the first Elizabeth Moon Proctor scholarship. Betsy inspired many library careers through her intelligent and tireless dedication to public library service; her commitment to outreach and services to minority and institutionalized populations; her irrepressible, infectious laughter and her enduring friendships. To encourage and assist Madison Public Library employees who plan careers in library and information studies, family and friends established the Elizabeth Moon Proctor Scholarship fund in Betsy's memory. See www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/new/ for full story.
Tana Elias, formerly Web Librarian, is now Library Web Resources Coordinator at Madison Public Library. The reclassified position oversees the selection, implementation, training, and ongoing maintenance for web-based resources related to public services and staff communication, as well as coordinating content creation and promotion of those resources.
Brian Hahn is the new SCLS Automation Help Desk Technician. He has two years experience handling evening support calls for Automation.
Patty Hoggett is the new children’s/youth services librarian at Cambridge Public Library. She has an undergraduate degree in elementary education and an MLS, both from UW-Madison. She also serves as the president of the Friends of the L.D. Fargo Public Library in Lake Mills.
The winter 2007 MATS newsletter has been posted at www.wla.lib.wi.us/mats/newsletters/winter2007.asp.
Emily Whitman has been hired as a Page I at the Central Library of Madison Public Library.
SCLS changes process for adding SCLS shared databases
A change has been implemented in the process for adding new SCLS shared online databases.
For the last few years, a cost-sharing model has been in place for purchasing databases. With member contributions and SCLS funds, a set of databases has been available for all SCLS-area residents. One reason for this model was a state law mandating that any database with remote access had to be available via remote access for any resident of the system. This law has now been changed, and individual libraries can purchase databases with remote access for their patrons only.
Since this change, there has been some concern that the current database model was problematic in two ways:
- it forced all libraries in the system to pay for the same things, even if some of the databases were less useful to their local population; and
- because the process required agreement from most of the libraries, it was slow, preventing libraries from adding resources quickly.
There also were some advantages to the current model:
- it provided equitable access to databases to all residents in the system;
- it allowed the system to provide system-wide training for databases;
- it provided leverage with the vendors, getting the best possible price for resources; and
- it allowed smaller libraries to have access to resources while paying only a small amount.
After much discussion by the SCLS Reference Committee, and a subcommittee of the Reference Committee, a revised process was recommended, and was approved by the Public Library Advisory Committee (PLAC) at its Nov. 1 meeting.
The new process, and how it will be implemented, are described below.
- In March 2008, we will survey all libraries on what databases they want/don’t want to pay for. BadgerLink databases, WorldCat, netLibrary, Serials Solutions and possibly OverDrive will not be included in the survey. (In addition to the BadgerLink EBSCOhost and ProQuest databases, BadgerLink includes TeachingBooks, LitFinder, African American Biographical Database, and Newspaper Archive.)
- The survey will include the non-discounted prices the libraries pay for the databases. (Libraries pay a discount because of the amount SCLS kicks in.) This will be explained in the survey.
- If more than five libraries are not willing to pay for a database we will evaluate each of those databases in 2008 on a case-by-case basis. Depending on the database, the libraries involved, and the cost, SCLS or member libraries may pick up the cost difference to continue to provide system-wide access. As a result, the list of systemwide databases may be different in 2009. For example
- if only 20 libraries indicate that are willing to pay for Database X, we would evaluate how much of the cost that covers, and if it isn’t enough, it may be that only those 20 libraries will have X. (Sometimes the cost difference between providing it for a certain population and the whole system is not great; other times it may be. It will depend on the database.)
- if 47 libraries indicate that they are willing to pay for Database Y, we will probably get it systemwide, and all libraries will pay.
- SCLS will provide authentication support and vendor negotiation for any database subscribed to by more than five libraries, as well as PR materials, if requested. For databases available systemwide, SCLS will provide authentication support, vendor negotiation, training, and PR.
- ReferenceUSA was scheduled to be re-evaluated in 2008, and we planned to do a year of homework help database trials starting in the fall of 2007. However, neither of these will happen, or at least not until all other issues have been worked out.
- At the time the Reference Committee made the recommendation, the Learning Express database had made it about three-fourths of the way through the old process. It was felt we should complete the process for it, which we did. Based on the overwhelmingly positive response, Learning Express will be added to the shared databases cost for 2008, with access beginning in January 2008. It will, however, be on the survey in March 2008.
- In the future, SCLS will arrange a trial only when at least five member libraries express interest in a database. Those libraries wishing to trial a database may determine interest from other libraries through personal contacts or the SCLS email lists scls-announce, scls-reference, and scls-directors. SCLS-arranged trials will be available to and should be announced to all member libraries (via the same email lists) by the libraries that have expressed interest. If at least five libraries wish to buy a database, SCLS will handle vendor negotiations and authentication. If less than five libraries wish to purchase a database individually, SCLS will be responsible for authentication only.
If you have questions, contact Cheryl Becker, SCLS Public Library Administration Consultant.
Jail Library Group Celebrates 15th Anniversary
On Nov. 9, 2007, the Jail Library Student Group based at UW-SLIS celebrated 15 years of serving the recreational reading needs of the residents of Dane County jails. Several speakers commemorated the event, including Louise Robbins, director of SLIS; Capt. Jeff Hook, Dane County Sheriff's Department; student coordinators Angela Milock and Betsy Bromley; and volunteer Nichole Fromm.
Light refreshments were served, including a cake that was decorated as a stack of books (designed by SLIS student Lexy Spry).
Online Continuing Ed Courses from UW-Madison SLIS
Continuing Education Services of UW-Madison SLIS recently announced its Winter/Spring 2008 Schedule. A list of the classes and dates is provided below, but for full details visit www.slis.wisc.edu/continueed.
- Public Library Administration -- January 7 through March 30
- Core Elements of Children’s Services -- January 7 through March 15
- Creating Public Library Programming for Adults -- January 24 through March 6
- Library 2.0: 101 -- January 28 through February 24
- YA Services and Literature -- February 4 through March 28
- Basic Reference -- February 4 through Apr 13
- Fundamentals of Cataloging -- February 4 through April 13
- Graphic Novels in the Library -- February 6 through March 5
- Eco-Librarians: Changing Our Communities One Step at a Time -- March 31 through April 21
In addition to these online classes, there is the travel opportunity “Books and Beauty in Western Ireland: A Librarians’ Trip,” scheduled February 28 through March 9, 2008.
For more information about any of these programs, contact Anna Palmer at (608) 263-4452 ([email protected]).
Monona Public Library develops Sustainability Section
With a nod to growing concerns about our environment and how we interact with it, the Monona Public Library on Nov. 4 introduced a Sustainability Section that offers books, DVDs, pamphlets, and guides on a multitude of topics.
Developed as a joint effort with The Natural Step Monona, the section opened with nearly 100 donated items to lend. More than 30 different brochures and guides are available for library patrons to take and keep. Topics in the Sustainability Section are diverse, but include things like eco-friendly gift giving, emerging home energy technologies, and how to eliminate the problems created by packaging.
For more information about this project, visit the Monona Public Library website.
BlogJunction offers opportunity for libraries to ‘shine the spotlight’
One of the best ways to get involved at WebJunction is to give recognition to the libraries and colleagues that offer meaningful contributions to the world of libraries.
BlogJunction offers a weekly opportunity to do just that. And you’re invited to offer contributions for:
- Library of the Month, a feature based on your referrals of libraries that make an impact;
- Member Spotlight, which is the opportunity to see the diverse perspectives represented in our community; and
- Spanish Language Outreach Case Studies, which highlights libraries that have successfully used their creative energies and innovative ideas to provide the best possible services for Spanish speakers.
To suggest a library or colleague for future recognition, send a note to [email protected].