Index
- Join 2010 ‘Say Cheese’ project on Nov. 17
- Member/Staff News
- CSLP trying to gauge interest in Adult Summer Library Program
- LSTA Advisory Committee meeting and public hearing scheduled
- Libraries should order tax forms now
- Children’s Day/Book Day grants available
- Grant Opportunities
- Continuing Education Calendar
Join 2010 ‘Say Cheese’ project on Nov. 17
Confident that “a picture is worth a thousand words,” the Campaign for Wisconsin Libraries, a multi-media publicity campaign sponsored by the Wisconsin Library Association Foundation (WLAF), is again promoting “Wisconsin Libraries Say Cheese!” to spotlight what’s happening in today’s libraries. You’re encouraged to join this year’s event, which is scheduled Nov. 17, 2010.
Through online sharing of photographs in Flickr, this “day in pictures” provides a way to increase understanding, through photos, of the multitude and variety of resources, services, programs, and activities all types of libraries offer -- with the intent to strengthen the base of support libraries have among the public officials who fund them and the people who use them.
To learn more about the project, how to participate, how to create a Flickr photo site, and suggestions for event planning, visit www.wisconsinlibraries.org/saycheese.
If you choose to participate, you should post your photos to an official library Flickr page, and not one that has a person’s name or nickname. Those individuals managing the project need to know which libraries are submitting photos
Member/Staff News
The mayor, the common council, and the library board of trustees in Fitchburg recently honored Debra Wilcox Johnson, interim library director, for playing a significant role in shepherding their library from concept to construction. At a specially planned event, trustees announced that a wall plaque in the new building will acknowledge Johnson as the library's first director and that the mystery collection, a special interest of Johnson's, will be named for her. At the same event, the Friends of the Fitchburg Library honored her by making a $5,000 gift to the mystery collection in her name. The following week, at the Fitchburg common council meeting, Mayor Jay Allen issued a detailed proclamation crediting Johnson with significant accomplishments in the library's creation. It expressed the city council's wish to "recognize Debra Wilcox Johnson and thank her for her tireless efforts to make Fitchburg Public Library a reality."
The October 2010 LINK Library Statistics Summary is posted on Automation's website. Both PDF and Excel versions of this report are posted.
Ben Miller is the new director at Sauk City Public Library, effective Nov. 15. He graduated from the University of Montana with a history degree and a minor in media arts. After spending the better part of his academic career holed up in libraries doing research, he decided to give working in libraries a chance and was hired as a library assistant in the Missoula Public Library. He quickly worked his way up from covering books, shelving, and working circulation to the position of Information Services Technician, which was really just a fancy way of saying he was a library computer geek. In an effort to "settle down" and start a family, Ben and his wife Darcy accepted a job as library director in Slater, IA. While living in Iowa, the couple celebrated the birth of their first child in June of this year, a boy named Wyle August Miller. Since Wyle's birth, Ben has spent many sleepless nights caring for his son and thinking about eBooks, digital rights management, copyright, the Internet and what the future of reading will look like for his son.
The November issue of WSLL @ Your Service has just been published at http://wilawlibrary.gov/newsletter/1011.html.
CSLP trying to gauge interest in Adult Summer Library Program materials
The Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) is trying to decide if it will continue to offer an adult summer library program manual. The CSLP would like interested librarians to complete an online survey that includes only five questions. All librarians are invited to complete the survey.
The CSLP is a consortium of states working together to provide high-quality summer reading program materials for children and adults at the lowest cost possible for their public libraries.
LSTA Advisory Committee meeting and public hearing scheduled
Wisconsin's Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Advisory Committee will meet in Madison on Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 16 and 17, 2010, at the Crowne Plaza, 4402 East Washington Avenue, Madison, WI 53704 to discuss grant proposals and make award recommendations for LSTA projects to take place in 2011.
As a part of the meeting, there will be a public hearing beginning at 10 a.m. on Nov. 16 for interested persons to make suggestions on the LSTA program for 2012. Final guidelines for the 2012 LSTA program will be developed in April 2011.
Libraries should order tax forms now
Each year more and more Wisconsin taxpayers are filing their income tax returns electronically. In 2008 the department introduced an e-file application called Wisconsin e-file. This application is free, secure, and accurate, plus taxpayers can get their refunds within days with direct deposit. Libraries are encouraged to refer customers to this free application. Wisconsin e-file is available from the department's web site at www.revenue.wi.gov/wi_efile/.
For 2009, libraries ordered approximately 200,000 fewer tax forms than in 2008, bringing the combined 2009 order down to 1.4 million. Based on the unique barcode assigned to forms provided to libraries, the department was able to determine that less than 10 percent of the 1.4 million forms provided to the libraries were actually filed with the department. While the Wisconsin Department of Revenue wants to continue providing forms to taxpayers who need them, there is a goal to reduce the waste associated with forms that are not being used. Libraries are urged to order fewer forms for 2010.
Remember, all Wisconsin tax forms are available online at www.revenue.wi.gov/html/formpub.html.
To order 2010 Wisconsin tax forms for your library, following these directions.
- Step 1 -- Complete Form P-744L, Library Tax Form Request, which is available at www.revenue.wi.gov/forms/misc/p-744lf.pdf
- Step 2 -- Fill in requested quantities
- Step 3 -- Save completed form to your computer
- Step 4 -- E-mail the completed request form (as an attachment) to [email protected]
Orders must be filed by Nov. 18, 2010.
Remember to sign up to the department's Library electronic mailing list to receive important communications specifically relating to libraries.
If you have any questions, or need help placing your order, contact Laurie Yahr at (608) 261-5106.
Children’s Day/Book Day grants available
El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day), is an every day celebration of children, families, and reading that emphasizes the importance of literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds. An annual celebration takes place on or near April 30, commonly known as “Dia.” Its primary goals are to honor children and their diverse backgrounds; to encourage reading and literacy; and to promote library collections and programs that reflect our plurality on a daily basis.
This grant will assist libraries in Dollar General communities to create a “Día-centric culture” that features a commitment to include and celebrate a variety of cultures year round, and in all aspects of their operations. Each funded library (up to eight libraries) serving a population of less than 75,000 will receive a grant of $4,000. Each funded library (up to seven libraries) serving a population of 75,000 or greater will receive a grant of $6,000.
Applicants must be public libraries with a demonstrated need and the capacity to address the diverse backgrounds within their community and commit to a “Día-centric culture” within their organization, and must be located within 20 miles of a Dollar General Store, distribution center, or corporate office.
More information and the application are available online, and the submission deadline is Nov. 29, 2010.
Grant Opportunities
These four ALSC grants offer a great opportunity for you and your library. Application materials and information is available at www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/profawards/, or follow the links for the individual grants listed below. The deadline is Dec. 1, 2010.
Bookapalooza
Each year the ALSC office receives almost 3,000 newly published books, videos, audiobooks and recordings from children's trade publishers for award and notables consideration. At the end of the year, after the awards have been given out, ALSC selects three libraries to receive a Bookapalooza collection of these materials (estimated to be worth $10,000 each) to be used in a way that creatively enhances their library service to children and families. -- Bookapalooza Application
The ALSC/BWI Summer Reading Grant
This grant provides $3,000 in financial assistance to a public library for developing an outstanding summer reading program for children. -- ALSC/BWI Grant Application
The Penguin Young Reader's Group Award
This award provides a $600 stipend for winners to attend their first ALA Annual Conference. Applicants must have less than 10 years of experience as a children's librarian and work directly with children. The award is sponsored by Penguin Young Reader's Group. -- Penguin Award Application
The Maureen Hayes Author/Illustrator Award
This award was established with funding from Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, in honor of Maureen Hayes, to bring together children and nationally recognized authors/illustrators. This award provides $4,000 to fund an author/illustrator visit to a school or public library. -- Hayes Award Application